ABOUT 20 barangays in Cebu City were given notices of suspension of encashment from the Land Bank of the Philippines as ordered by the Commission on Audit (COA) since they failed to submit some pertinent documents.
Councilor Philip Zafra, president of the Association of Barangay Councils (ABC), was among the village heads who were found to have failed to submit Punong Barangay Certificates (PBCs).
Zafra, who is in his first term as Tisa barangay chairman, said he didn’t know about the notice until the Land Bank last week called his office, informing about the COA directive.
“Considering that there was no formal turnover being undertaken by the former administration, we are unaware of matters relative to whatever transactions involved,” he said.
The PBCs, Zafra said, are attachments of certificates signed by the barangay captain. These are required for all monetary transactions, vouchers and encashment in the bank.
“We cannot encash our checks unless we comply and submit the PBC,” he said. Zafra assured barangay officials and employees that they will still get their salaries.
“It’s a matter of compliance with paper works, documentation,” he said.