06/11/2026
𝐂𝐈𝐓𝐘 𝐆𝐎𝐕𝐄𝐑𝐍𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓 𝐎𝐅 𝐊𝐀𝐁𝐀𝐍𝐊𝐀𝐋𝐀𝐍 𝐈𝐒𝐒𝐔𝐄𝐒 𝐂𝐋𝐀𝐑𝐈𝐅𝐈𝐂𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝐎𝐍 𝐂𝐎𝐀 𝐀𝐔𝐃𝐈𝐓 𝐎𝐁𝐒𝐄𝐑𝐕𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐒, 𝐂𝐈𝐓𝐄𝐒 𝐀𝐂𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐒 𝐓𝐀𝐊𝐄𝐍 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐂𝐎𝐌𝐌𝐈𝐓𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓 𝐓𝐎 𝐓𝐑𝐀𝐍𝐒𝐏𝐀𝐑𝐄𝐍𝐂𝐘 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐀𝐂𝐂𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐓𝐀𝐁𝐈𝐋𝐈𝐓𝐘
STATEMENT of the City Accounting Office headed by City Accountant Mr. Ramelo Dela Cruz, CPA, on the matter concerning the audit observations of the Commission on Audit (COA) on the financial transactions and operations of the City of Kabankalan
This is in relation to the recent social media post concerning the audit observations of the Commission on Audit (COA) on the financial transactions and operations of the Local Government Unit (LGU) of Kabankalan for Calendar Year 2025.
The City Government would like to clarify that the audit observations covering various areas of operation had already been discussed and addressed during the Exit Conference conducted on April 8, 2026, attended by the concerned department and office heads who provided the necessary explanations, information, and supporting details relative to the areas under audit. These matters had also been taken up and discussed with the concerned offices during the first quarter of 2026.
The City Government acknowledges the observations raised by the COA auditors and recognizes the importance of their recommendations in strengthening internal controls, improving financial management, and ensuring compliance with government accounting and auditing rules and regulations.
However, it is worth emphasizing that the social media post highlighted the audit findings without sufficiently presenting the corresponding recommendations of the Commission on Audit. COA recommendations are intended to guide the auditee (City of Kabankalan) in addressing identified deficiencies, improving documentation, strengthening processes, and ensuring the proper presentation and management of financial records.
In this regard, the City Government has already undertaken several corrective and responsive measures, including the following:
Reconciliation of various accounts and the recording of necessary reconciling items;
Issuance of demands to concerned accountable officers regarding outstanding cash advances and inventory accountabilities;
Creation of an Executive Committee tasked to review, monitor, and address dormant accounts;
Implementation and ongoing ex*****on of projects funded under the 20% Development Fund; and
Submission of the City Action Plan and Status of Implementation of Prior Year's Audit Recommendations to the Commission on Audit.
These actions demonstrate the City Government's commitment to addressing audit observations and implementing the recommendations of the Commission.
The City Government of Kabankalan, under the leadership of Hon. Mayor Benjie M. Miranda, remains steadfast in its commitment to transparency, accountability, and responsible management of public funds. All financial transactions and expenditures of the city are subject to proper documentation and are undertaken in accordance with applicable government accounting and auditing rules, regulations, and laws.
