By Mae Singuay

Bacolod City Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez is eyeing proper tagging of assets following the final inventory of the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan properties before the turnover to the newly-elected village officials.

This came after newly-elected officials in the city’s Barangay 20, were surprised as they found that some properties were missing inside the village hall.

Atty. Jeremae Ann Ceriaco, acting city accountant and City Assessment and Transition Team (CATT) head, told Benitez that the barangay has only a few assets.

The mayor directed the CATT to double check the assets and properties of the barangay hall.

A proper turnover of financial records, documents and properties should be conducted with the CATT, Benitez emphasized.

“Gusto ko lang i-klaro, ang disbursement sa mga barangays dapat naga-tally sa accounting, kay basi wala nila na-forward diri sa amon, but gingastuhan sang barangay para i-audit, kag mabal-an gid kun ano ang matuod,” the mayor said.

Benitez asked if they had procured properties using government funds.

He confirmed that some barangays allegedly never practice property tagging.

“We need to enhance the tagging for government assets. Which is why we have imposed a QR [quick response] code system on all the assets of the city to easily identify them,” Benitez said.

“One of my proposals for the good governance practices that we must do, is the proper tagging of all the assets to the barangay level. If may mga missing items, they will have to face the music,” he added.

Benitez is scheduled to meet with the Commission on Audit and the Department of the Interior and Local Government to find out the procedures if there will be missing items in the inventory, and who will be the liable individuals./MS, WDJ