Professional Documents
Culture Documents
October 14, 1999
TO : All City, Municipal, and Provincial Auditors and others concerned
SUBJECT : Audit on the Utilization of the Special Education Fund by Local Auditors
In a dialogue conducted by the Commission Proper last 8 October, 1999 on the utilization
of the Special Education Fund (SEF), several issues have been raised by Local Chief
Executives and members of the Local School Boards on the provisions of Section 272 of
Republic Act No. 7160 and the implementing guidelines under DBM/DILG/DECS Joint Circular
No. 01 series of 1998:
RA 7160
"Section 272. Application of Proceeds of the Additional one Percent SEF Tax.
x x x Provided, however, That the proceeds shall be allocated for the operation
and maintenance of public schools, construction and repair of school buildings,
facilities and equipment, educational research, purchase of books and
periodicals, and sports development as determined and approved by the local
school board."
Joint Circular No. 01 series of 1998 of DECS, DBM and DILG
"4.0 Prioritization of Expenses chargeable to SEF
The Local School Boards shall give priority to the following expenses
chargeable against SEF:
x x x "
In most cases, the "operation and maintenance of public schools" have been interpreted
by COA Auditors as charges to expenditure object 02 or Maintenance and Other Operating
Expenses (MOOE) and as such, salaries of teachers handling extension classes as well as
salaries of nonteaching staff directly involved in the operation of schools were disallowed in
audit.
To resolve the issue and in view of the clarificatory issuance to be prepared by the
DILG/DBM/DECS on the matter as well as House Bill No. 4948 "An Act Strengthening further
the Local School Boards, amending Section 100 of RA 7160, and for other purposes", all Local
Auditors shall observe the following guidelines on the audit of SEF particularly on payment of
salaries to teachers and nonteaching staff.
For transactions still to be postaudited, the Auditor shall complete the postaudit
without need of issuing the Notice of Disallowance (ND) but with the notation on the
audit working papers that the issuance of the ND is held in abeyance until directed by
COA Central Office throught the Regional Directors concerned. Also, a notation that
earlier similar transactions have already been disallowed, shall be reflected in the
working papers, where applicable.
For transactions where Notice of Disallowance have been prepared and issued to
management, counting of the six months for the disallowance to mature shall be "ON
HOLD" until directed by COA Central Office.
Audit of all other SEF transactions shall continue and the corresponding Notices issued,
as the case may warrant.
This memorandum shall take effect immediately.
(Sgd.) CELSO D. GAÑGAN
Chairman
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