COA questions CHR for need to conduct trainings in hotels

The Commission on Human Rights could have saved more than P5.4 million in public funds had it used its own office or other government facilities as venues for 20 seminars and workshops instead of holding them in various hotels, the Commission on Audit said in its 2017 audit report.

"The CHR could have expended minimal amount of training expenses had the agency conducted the trainings within the office premises or utilized available government facilities and on a non-residential (live-out) basis," COA said.

Out of the 20 programs, COA said the CHR conducted seven of these in out-of-town hotels located in Tagaytay City, Antipolo City, Batangas City, and San Mateo, Rizal while the rest were held in Metro Manila.

The most expensive was the training on business writing and oral communications skills workshop held at Dream Ventures Property Management Corporation in Quezon City, where the CHR spent P585,850 for the four-day event.

COA also cited CHR's P557,575 spending for a three-day finance and administrative capability enhancement training at Brentwood Suites, training on the Government Procurement Act worth P524,764 held at ACE Hotel and Suites, and a training on human rights based approach protection program conducted at the Development Academy of the Philippines in Tagaytay City worth P384,800.

COA observed most attendees came from the CHR central office, who were checked in at the same hotel where participants from the regional offices are staying despite their residence in Metro Manila.

These participants were also given meals for breakfast, morning and afternoon snacks, lunch and dinner, and function room facilities during the course of the workshops.

Under the Government Accounting and Auditing Manual, government agencies are encouraged to conduct trainings within their premises or utilize the facilities of other offices to ensure the efficiency of operations.

COA directed the CHR to explain why it held its trainings on a residential basis.

Lack of office space

CHR spokesperson Jacqueline de Guia said these trainings were held outside of its premises due to limited spaces at the CHR main office in Commonwealth Avenue, Quezon City where it once shared space with the Human Rights Victims' Claims Board.

"For years, the CHR had limitations in its office space, making it a challenge to house trainings in its premises. In fact, our current office is an old, condemned building, which we continue to improve up to this date to overcome these hurdles," De Guia said in a statement.

De Guia, nonetheless, said all these trainings were subjected to regular procurement rules and were kept at minimum expenses.

"New spaces have been recently created, fully-functioning and well-utilized by the Commission to this date. This is a concrete measure that CHR had already taken considering the recommendations of our state auditors even before the news broke," De Guia said.

"Being one of the least funded government bodies, we assure the public that we value every peso entrusted to us, especially at a time when the promotion and protection of human rights in the country continues to be a challenge," she added. — RSJ, GMA News