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PhilHealth head spent P627,000 for travel amid P9-B loss: COA document

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ABS-CBN News

MANILA - The interim president of Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) spent P627,000 for travel in 2017, when the agency tallied a loss of nearly P9 billion, according to a Commission on Audit (COA) document obtained by ABS-CBN News. PhilHealth officer-in-charge Celestina Ma. Jude Dela Serna&#x27;s travel expenses to and from Tagbilaran and Manila include plane fares, terminal fees, and hotel/lodging accommodations, COA said in an audit observation memorandum (AOM) dated April 18.<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2018/news/05/03/delaserna-table-02.jpg"/><figcaption>This photo of the AOM shows a table summarizing funds with notices of disallowance received by Dela Serna.</figcaption></figure></div>The disbursements were not in accordance with a COA circular on the disallowance of irregular expenditures, auditors said. &quot;Irregular expenditures are incurred if funds are disbursed without conforming with prescribed usages and rules of discipline. There is no observance of an established pattern course, mode of action, behavior or conduct in the incurrence of irregular expenditure,&quot; the AOM reads. Dela Serna incurred the P627,000 travel expenses in the same year that PhilHealth tallied a net income loss of P8.920 billion, according to an unaudited <a href="https://www.philhealth.gov.ph/about_us/transparency/accomplishment_report/PhilHealth_FS_2017_Unaudited.pdf">financial statement</a> posted on its website. In 2016, the agency incurred a loss of P251 million. The PhilHealth board of directors voted Dela Serna to her position in April 2017 following the resignation of Dr. Hildegardes C. Dineros. Dela Serna served as chief of 2 hospitals in Bohol before her appointment to the PhilHealth board representing overseas Filipino migrant workers. <ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="http://news.abs-cbn.com/news/04/11/17/philhealth-names-new-interim-president-and-ceo">PhilHealth names new interim president and CEO</a></li></ul>Her father, Victor Dela Serna, was among President Duterte&#x27;s law professors and is now part of the <a href="http://news.abs-cbn.com/focus/01/26/18/who-are-the-members-of-dutertes-charter-change-panel">consultative body</a> on charter change. Aside from Dela Serna&#x27;s travel expenses, COA also flagged the P143,881 she received in allowances &quot;which were all issued Notices of Disallowance (ND) in the years which are all &#x27;on appeal&#x27; status.&quot; <div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2018/news/05/03/delaserna-table-01.jpg"/><figcaption>This photo of the AOM shows a table summarizing Dela Serna&#x27;s travel expenses.</figcaption></figure></div>COA also asked Dela Serna to explain the P152,000 she spent for meetings through videoconferencing. The COA directed the PhilHealth chief to &quot;submit legal basis&quot; for allowances. Dela Serna was also urged to avoid AOMs by &quot;refrain[ing] from claiming aforementioned allowance, unless there is legal basis for the grant of aforecited benefits.&quot;

The interim president of Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) spent P627,000 for travel in 2017, when the agency tallied a loss of nearly P9 billion, according to a Commission on Audit (COA) document seen by ABS-CBN News.

The interim president of Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) spent P627,000 for travel in 2017, when the agency tallied a loss of nearly P9 billion, according to a Commission on Audit (COA) document seen by ABS-CBN News.