• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Expenses of the Negros Occidental provincial government-managed Mambukal Resort and Wildlife Sanctuary located in Barangay Minoyan, Murcia was initially discovered to have been bigger compared to its income in 2023, Provincial Legal Officer (PLO) Alberto Nellas Jr. confirmed on Tuesday (June 11).
Based on the initial report of the Office of the Provincial Accountant as of Dec. 29, 2023, the total income from catering services and related collections amounted to P30,375,712, including adjustments for catering services rendered and already settled as well as collections of the Mambukal food court.
However, it is crucial to note that the total expenses for the same period exceeded the total income, amounting to P33,918,904, according to the show-cause order issued to Cheryl Decena, former head of the Mambukal Resort, and five of its employees, who are disbursing officers.
Common sense dictates that you should be making a profit or breaking even since Mambukal is one of the provincial government’s business enterprises, Nellas said. He added that Decena and the five others have already submitted their respective counter-affidavits, which they are now assessing along with the evidences presented.
Prior to her designation as provincial tourism officer, Decena was the head of the Capitol-managed mountain resort.
As officer-in-charge of the Mambukal Resort and Wildlife Sanctuary for the period of 2022 to 2023, Decena, under the principle of command responsibility, flagrantly neglected to rectify the unliquidated cash advances of her subordinate disbursing officers, the show-cause order said.
This blatant disregard for her duties directly contributed to the unjustified utilization of Mambukal funds, it added.
If there is an administrative liability, it will show in the investigation reports, including the recommendations, which is expected to be completed within a month, Nellas said.
Decena and the five disbursing officers are still performing their respective duties, he added. | GB
