LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – Five Benguet State University officials, including four former and incumbent presidents, and officials of a farmers organization were found liable for the alleged illegal lease of commercial spaces of the institution that caused the university at least P258,000 in lost income for several years now.
In a notice of charge dated November 29, 2016, Cristina B. Emaguin, State Auditor IV and Audit Team Leader, and Queemy F. Nadunop, State Auditor IV and OIC Supervising Auditor, pointed out that the BSU officials responsible for the free use of the commercial spaces of the institution were former presidents Rogelio Colting, Ben Ladilad, Jones K. Feleciano and incumbent president Feliciano Calora, Jr. and Nicandra J. Cuilan and officers of the Timpuyug Dagiti Umanamong iti BSU Internal Guarantee System (TUBIGS).
“We have reviewed the use of facilities of the University and noted that a private organization, specifically the TUBIGS, has been allowed free use of a stall along a commercial area of BSU and later, in a partitioned area within the BSU marketing center. The initial stall occupied by TUBIGS was across the dry goods stalls which are being leased to various individuals for a monthly fee. The TUBIGS then transferred to a stall portioned off from the space allocated for the BSU marketing center, said center being used for the income-generating projects of the University,” the notice of charge stated.
The audit team claimed similar spaces in other university commercial centers are being leased out to private individuals for specific fees and the utilization of the stalls by the TUBIGS then and presently, is for vending the various organic produce of its member, thus, the usage of the assets of the University by the TUBIGS for commercial activities is without covering contracts between said organization and the management, thus, such utilization could be considered as unauthorized.
Likewise, the audit team emphasized the stalls being for commercial purposes and for income-generating projects, it appears that management has been allegedly remiss in its fiscal responsibility by allowing the use of the assets without contracts of lease that resulted to the non-assessment and corresponding non-collection of rent income.
The audit team revealed the issue and the corresponding Audit Observation Memorandum (AOM) No. 16-019 dated August 8, 2016, was brought to the attention of BSU authorities but management responded that the Business Affairs Office is coordinating with the accounting office on the monthly rate of rental based on the agreement being processed and that TUBIGS has agreed to enter into an agreement to lease the area being occupied at the marketing center.
However, the audit team claimed to date, it has not been furnished a perfect contract and no payment has been received by the University from the TUBIGS and benchmarking from the agreements for the lease similar commercial areas entered into by the University, the amount due to the institution from TUBIGS was assessed to have a total of P258,520.
For his part, Feleciano disclosed during his term as officer-in-charge, he had always reminded the administrative council on the matter but it seems that the proper authorities never gave due course to such concern, thus, the accumulated rentals incurred by the organization.
By HENT
