THE Commission on Audit (CoA) called out the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) for the use and repair costs of its depreciated vehicles.

According to its 2018 annual audit report, CHR spent P4,667,200.31 for repairs of 23 motor vehicles in the last four years.

“Verification of the property and accounting records showed that the CHR has 23 motor vehicles that underwent frequent repairs, of which, seven were used by the CHR Central Office and 16 by the CHR Regional Offices, acquired from 1988 to 2010. Remarkably, these vehicles are fully depreciated as at December 31, 2018,” CoA said in its report.

The state auditors also noted that a total of P1.59 million worth repairs were recorded in 2018, or 66% higher from the 2017 repairs of P9.6 million.

“The management, both in CHR CO and ROs, opted to continue using outmoded vehicles because these are their means of transportation necessary in their operation for the past four years. This is despite…the significant number of vehicle acquisition in CY 2018,” CoA said.

Thus, COA recommended CHR to revisit its policy on repairs and maintenance of vehicles considered “beyond economical repair.”

In a statement, lawyer and CHR Spokesperson Jacqueline Ann de Guia said, “Aside from the limitations in its personnel — at times, merely constituting regional presence — CHR has also faced budget limitations preventing it to procure new vehicles and has resorted to repairs and maintenance of outdated units so that our offices can continue delivering the services expected from us amidst restraints.”

“CHR has already worked with CoA on this audit observation and has agreed to address the issue by identifying units ready to be retired given the new units.” — Vince Angelo C. Ferreras

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR