AMA Manila confirms return of P9.3M flagged in TESDA audit

AMA Computer College (AMACC)-Manila has confirmed the findings of the Commission on Audit that it has returned the P9.3-million payment of the government that was questioned due to the doubtful list of scholars.

AMACC spokesperson April Casquejo said the amount was returned to the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) around July last year.

“In relation to the current issues surrounding AMA Computer College – Sta. Mesa Inc. (AMACC Manila) on the discrepancies brought up by the Commission of Audit, AMACC Manila would like to confirm that it has already returned the total amount of P 9,300,000 to TESDA; implemented as early as July of 2017,” Casquejo said in a statement.

In its 2017 audit report on TESDA, the COA flagged the payment to AMACC Manila because of the questionable list of scholars under TESDA’s Training for Work Scholarship Program and discrepancies in supporting documents.

The COA said the lack of monitoring and manpower also "opened chances for TVIs to submit false reports of scholars and trainings" and "deprived other qualified beneficiaries the opportunity to avail of the same slots, and benefit as scholars."

AMACC management thus said it has returned the P9.3 million and sacked the school director of the Sta. Mesa campus.

"Additionally, termination of the individual involved in said activities was imposed in May of 2017 following an internal investigation,” Casquejo said.

Casquejo said the COA report is only an isolated case, but AMACC already improved its internal procedures amid the audit.

“While an isolated case, AMA Computer College – Sta. Mesa Inc, only one of the over 150 schools within the AMA Education System has from then on applied more distinct procedures within its internal processes to ensure stricter audit,” she said. —Joseph Tristan Roxas/KBK, GMA News