Book board exec answers raps

Saturday, July 01, 2006

By Jonathan Hicap, Reporter

AN official of the National Book Development Board said the unsettled cash advances amounting to P325,­930.45 were made by former members. He said the pre­sent members have no unsettled cash advances.
The unliquidated cash advances date from the term of the former board members who served in the late 1990s, said Director Wilfredo Castillo of the board secretariat.
In a report issued earlier, the Commission on Audit rebuked the board for profligacy, saying it had spent P370,923.36 for food in meetings, P407,388.96 for prepaid cellular-phone cards, P134,365 for seven air conditioners and P32,990 for a TV set.
In the report the commission noted that the book board failed to take austerity measures, resulting in excessive expenses. For instance, the report added, “the cost of meals for each meeting participant amounted to as much as P603.26, which is excessive.”
Castillo denied the charge. The board’s secretariat, he said, has corrected the practice. He added that the present board’s budget for the monthly meeting is only P5,000 for 8 members, one board secretary and 12 members of the secretariat, including the drivers.
The Manila Times tried to get the side of the book board, but Chairman Dennis Gonzalez was not available. He failed to return the call of the reporter writing the story.
In the letter, the board secretary said, Gonzalez “presides over board meetings usually once a month and does not do day-to-day management of the agency.”