CEBU, Philippines – The Municipality of Compostela does not have  sufficient funds to pay for its obligations, including salaries to  employees and other payables, state auditors reported after reviewing  the town's books for 2009.
  The Commission on Audit (COA) in its report released October 7 said  the municipality only has P1.55 million cash in its bank and treasury  records, which are not enough to pay for its P14.8 million obligations  by the end of 2009.
 The auditors said the disparity is expected to increase when  unrecorded disbursements and other unreconciled items are brought to  light by a special audit team.
 According to auditors, the municipal treasurer continued to certify  that funds were available for expenses identified by officials including  then Mayor Ritchie Wagas, causing the town to incur payables that could  not be paid by their actual funds.
 "The municipal treasurer, who was supposed to monitor income  collections, continued to certify the availability of funds in the  purchase request and disbursement voucher and subsequently issued checks  despite shortfalls in collection," state auditors said.
 "The foregoing practices are indications that the municipal treasurer was negligent and remiss in his duties."