P21M in Owwa funds unremitted–COA

MANILA, Philippines—Overseas officers of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (Owwa) failed to remit more than P21 million in collections to Owwa’s Manila account in 2010, putting these funds at risk of misappropriation, according to the Commission on Audit (COA).

In its 2010 report on the Owwa, the COA said dollar and euro collections from various foreign posts amounting to P21.587 million had gone unremitted “for a long period of time.”

These represent collections for the agency’s voluntary membership program, under which overseas workers obtain assistance for themselves and their families for various concerns.

Owwa’s overseas officers are required to remit their monthly collections to the Owwa Land Bank-Manila dollar account not later than the fifth day of the following month, the COA said.

But in its scrutiny of the records, the audit agency found that P21.587 million had not been remitted for periods ranging from one to 10 years.

Several of the officers concerned are still in the service, four have absconded or are absent without leave, while another 10 have resigned or moved to another agency, the COA found. It also noted that collections from Switzerland from October 2007 to December 2010 were remitted by an employee of the Department of Labor.

Because the collections were not remitted in a timely manner, the funds are at risk of being misused, the COA warned.

With the period of time that has lapsed and continued failure of the collection officers, particularly those with large amounts of accountability, to remit the money, the possibility of the funds having been misappropriated cannot be discounted, the COA said.

It is also concerned that some of the funds may already be lost, it said.

“Moreover, recovering the [money] may become difficult and may even be doubtful for those who have absconded or have been separated from the service,” it said.

The audit agency told the Owwa that it should demand the immediate remittance of the full amount from the collecting officers concerned.

The Owwa should also withhold payment of any money to the collecting officers, and hold them accountable, it said.

The Owwa should get in touch with those who have gone Awol and demand that they settle their accountability for the unremitted collections, the COA said.

The Owwa, in response, has told the COA that it has sent demand letters to these employees and had withheld their salaries and other benefits in the meantime. It has also sent notices to the collection officers who are no longer with the Owwa, but are still in the service at the labor department, it said.

It also vowed to exert effort to find those who had absconded so they can be held accountable.