OPA uncovers excesses in gov’t per diems in FY ’97

The Office of the Public Auditor has uncovered more questionable government-paid travels as well as erroneous payment of per diem allowances made during the term of former Gov. Froilan C. Tenorio.

In a review it conducted on travel documents of 12 departments and autonomous agencies of the government, the OPA discovered excesses in payment of per diems, improperly filled out travel vouchers, questionable travel purpose, unaccounted travel vouchers and incomplete travel authorizations.

A review of some 268 travel authorizations compiled by OPA was conducted to provide the government information in implementing austerity measures as well as in rationalizing the implementation of standard travel policy and increase public awareness on the issue.

Four board members of the defunct Marianas Visitors Authority traveled to Hawaii and Las Vegas on Nov. 19-29, 1996 but failed to submit the required reports to determine whether these were performed in the best interest of the CNMI.

“However, we believe that the nature of the activities of this autonomous agency does not call for research on casinos,” said Leo L. LaMotte, CNMI public auditor.

Based on the itinerary prepared before the field trip, the four board members had two days of “free time” in Las Vegas before returning to Saipan. These board members were given one day per diem for their travel back to Saipan when they would not have earned such if they had left Las Vegas immediately at the end of their activities.

The itinerary of these board members showed tentative meetings with people whom they would be dealing. Since there were no trip reports, the OPA could not determine whether the so called tentative meetings were in fact held.

“We suggest that all business meetings should first be confirmed before the planned travel to maximize the purpose of the travel, minimize travel time and cost, and in effect avoid waste of government funds,” the OPA said.

Erroneous payments of travel vouchers were also noted by the OPA when it reviewed the travel authorizations.

Thirteen travel liquidation of board members were found with excess per diem consisting of $60 per day as board fee and $60 per day as weekend compensation, totaling to $3,390. OPA did not identify the government agency, except that the payments were allowed on top of the regular per diem earned.

According to the OPA, the Department of Finance Policies and Procedures Manual does not include a provision allowing these fees and compensation, apart from the regular per diem.

Eleven travel vouchers with per diem of $275 per day or amounting to $6,050 was given to those who went to Narita, Japan despite the fact that the airline provided transportation, room accommodation and meals at a hotel there.

The CNMI Travel Voucher Instructions states that a traveler is not allowed per diem for any period of time during which a carrier provides lodging and subsistence.

Although no ground transportation was authorized in the travel authorization of one board member, a car rental fee of $144 was claimed and reimbursed to one board member when such expense was incurred during the two-day “free time” period which was scheduled during Saturday and Sunday, after the travel activities.

The OPA reminded that the CNMI Policies and Procedures Manual for Travel and Transportation does not allow any amount of compensation for traveler who incurred such expense on a rented car/fuel if the section of the travel authorization is not signed by the proper official.