đź“·Former National Youth Commission Chairperson Ronald Cardema
The Commission on Audit has questioned the excessive payments for hotel reservations and food accommodations of the National Youth Commission (NYC) in 2023.
In its 2023 audit report, COA said that it could not verify NYC’s training expenses totaling P19.7 million for local accounts and could not confirm the validity of an additional P7.8 million for foreign accounts.
The state auditors also said that the overpayments originated from NYC’s 1st Agency Quarterly Performance Review held on April 13, 2023. COA observed that six attendees were not listed in the relevant office orders.
The NYC also failed to provide complete supporting documents for a total of P1,227,759.20. Of this amount, P578,244.05 was paid and approved by the wrong signatories.
COA also questioned the NYC Office of the Commissioner Representing Visayas over a P7,699 charge for an unused single room at Bayview Park Hotel during the Local Conference of Youth-Phils event.
According to COA, the excessive cost of the unused accommodation rooms and meals could have been avoided if NYC asked the absent participants to pay for their rooms.
“Audit further disclosed that the said employees attended on behalf of the non-attendees,” COA said.
“Even though the Management had good intentions when they sent the aforementioned employees, their attendance at the event is still considered unauthorized because they are not included in the Office Order,” it added.
The NYC was also called out for the delayed issuance of office orders regarding payments to resource persons totaling P35,300.
COA recommended that NYC enforce stricter controls on its training and seminars, stressing the importance of ensuring that all attendees are properly authorized to participate.
The findings of COA pertain to the year 2023, a period during which Ronald Cardema served as the Youth Commissioner and oversaw the office amid these accounting discrepancies.
In 2024, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. dismissed Cardema from his position and appointed Joseph Ortega as his successor.
Cardema is a known supporter of former President Rodrigo Duterte and his family. During Cardema’s tenure, the National Youth Commission (NYC) faced criticism for its inadequate budget utilization. (TCSP)
