Stop paying for food supplement benefits, "the Audit Commission (COA) has ordered the National Police Commission (Napolcom), saying that vitamin benefits have no legal basis.
"We recommend that management immediately stop payment of food supplement benefits; and henceforth, do not pay any form of benefits unless legally permitted, "said the audit agency.
In its annual audit report, the COA said that Napolcom must stop distributing P9.09 million in food supplementary benefits to officials and employees, including contract personnel.
Based on the COA report, at the end of 2018, Napolcom had spent P8,230,000 on regular employee and employee vitamin benefits, and another P856,000 for contract services and work order personnel.
The COA said that the police agency had continued to provide benefits even though the October 2017 memo was suspended for the same legal reasons.
Napolcom said the allowance was permitted under the Preventive Health Care Program (CSC) and its Administrative Order No. 402.
But the audit agency said Napolcom's AO 402 only referred to a medical examination program "consisting of truly diagnostic procedures," and did not provide details for vitamin or food supplement benefits.
"Funds intended for medical examinations will only be used to pay for the actual examination fees provided. As such, this benefit cannot be monetized, "the COA said, adding that food and supplementary benefits paid in cash were" out of scope "from CSC's health care program.
Napolcom management said it was giving pocket money "in good faith," but that it would stop giving it based on COA orders.
"We recommend that management immediately stop payment of food supplement benefits; and henceforth, do not pay any form of benefits unless legally permitted, "said the audit agency.
In its annual audit report, the COA said that Napolcom must stop distributing P9.09 million in food supplementary benefits to officials and employees, including contract personnel.
Based on the COA report, at the end of 2018, Napolcom had spent P8,230,000 on regular employee and employee vitamin benefits, and another P856,000 for contract services and work order personnel.
The COA said that the police agency had continued to provide benefits even though the October 2017 memo was suspended for the same legal reasons.
Napolcom said the allowance was permitted under the Preventive Health Care Program (CSC) and its Administrative Order No. 402.
But the audit agency said Napolcom's AO 402 only referred to a medical examination program "consisting of truly diagnostic procedures," and did not provide details for vitamin or food supplement benefits.
"Funds intended for medical examinations will only be used to pay for the actual examination fees provided. As such, this benefit cannot be monetized, "the COA said, adding that food and supplementary benefits paid in cash were" out of scope "from CSC's health care program.
Napolcom management said it was giving pocket money "in good faith," but that it would stop giving it based on COA orders.