The Department of Tourism (DOT) has vowed to review results of the latest agency audit after the Commission on Audit (COA) flagged its P507.304 million spending for lack of supporting documents.
In a statement, the DOT clarified that the COA findings covered the period from 2016 to December 2018.
“The Department of Tourism (DOT) will conduct a thorough review of the findings contained in the recently published report of the Commission on Audit,” the DOT statement read.
“I have directed all DOT officials to prepare pertinent documentation and responses to comply with COA.”
Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat has directed all DOT officials at the central and regional offices to prepare pertinent documentation and responses to comply with the requirements of the COA.
Meanwhile, Romulo-Puyat maintained that the agency remains committed to the Duterte administration’s policy of transparency and accountability.
The COA’s 2018 report on the DOT revealed that various disbursements amounting to P507.304 million “were not supported with necessary documents to establish their validity.”
“Non-submission of the necessary documents affects the validity and propriety of the disbursements made and an indication of weakness in the internal control over disbursements of Central and Regional Offices,” state auditors said.