COA orders return of P8.17M in MWSS execs’ ‘excessive’ meal allowances

The Commission on Audit has ordered 21 officials and employees of the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) to refund the government P8.17 million worth of meal allowances granted to them in 2012 and 2013.

In a three-page decision dated February 20, the COA commission proper denied the officials' petition for review and upheld its 2014 notices of disallowance.

The COA said the petition was denied outright after it was filed 362 days late.

"Petitioners did not offer any plausible explanation for the extended delay in filing this appeal. Thus, this Commission finds no compelling reason to justify the relaxation of its rules of procedures," the COA said.

The petitioners include former MWSS administrator Gerardo Esquivel, former senior deputy administrator Nathaniel Santos, and deputy administrators Zoilo Andin Jr. and Leonor Cleofas.

The COA said their plea would still be junked based on the merits, noting the Compensation and Position Classification Act integrated allowances and benefits into the standardized salaries of the MWSS officials.

However, the Department of Budget and Management classified meal allowances as "non-integrated allowances" that needs presidential approval. The COA said the MWSS officials should be aware of this policy.

"Meal allowance is an additional benefit that requires presidential approval or legislative issuance for its grant. In the absence of the appropriate authorization, the petitioners have no legal basis or authority to receive the meal allowance or increase the meal allowance," the commission said.

"Given the DBM statements... the MWSS officials and employees cannot claim good faith as they have already been made aware of the limits of the authority of the MWSS officials to grant additional compensation, including meal allowance," it added.

The MWSS has been embroiled in the water supply shortage in Metro Manila, with Manila Water customers experiencing several days of water service interruptions.

The MWSS said a possible penalty may be meted against the water concessionaire for failing to provide 24/7 service. — BM, GMA News