The Commission on Audit (COA) has denied the payment for accommodations, meals, and other services amounting to P456,716.50 incurred by former Department of Tourism (DOT) officials during their stay at the Discovery Shores Boracay in 2018.

It denied the claim of Discovery World Corporation (DWC), operator of Discovery Shores Boracay, as it ruled that the amount should be collected directly from the former officials who availed themselves of the resort's services, food, and other items.

In 2018, former DOT secretary Wanda Tulfo-Teo, undersecretary Katherine De Castro, assistant secretary Frederick Alegre, executive Assistant II Angelito Ucol, Executive Assistant III Julius Disamburun stayed at Discovery Shores Boracay and incurred expenses for meals, beverages, and other services at the resort's Sands Restaurant, Sand Bar, and Indigo Bar and Spa in the total amount of P313,716.50. The sum for accommodations amounted to P143,000.

When DWC demanded payment from the DOT during the time of then secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat, the claim was no longer accepted because the appropriation or allotment from which the claim should be charged was no longer valid.

Even when the claim reached the COA, the commission ruled against DWC and said that the money claim is "devoid of merit" as it cited Sections 4 and 5 of Executive Order (EO) No. 298, series of 2004.

COA said that the allowable travel expenses should only be P800 per day of which 50 percent should be for hotel or lodging, 30 percent should be for meals, and 20 percent for incidental expenses.

It also said that claims for payment of travel expenses "shall be allowed only upon presentation of proof, duly supported by bills or invoices with official receipts of expenses incurred, that they stayed in the place of their assignment for the whole duration of their official travel."

Based on records obtained by the COA, the rate of a single room in Discovery Shores is P13,000 per night. "This exceeds the P400 per day hotel/lodging fees allowed by the aforesaid EO even assuming that the five DOT officials and employees occupied a single room," COA said.

"Further, the incurred expenses for meals, beverages, and other services at the resort's Sands Restaurant, Sand Bar, and Indigo Bar and Spa... covered meals for 25 to 35 persons ranging from P207 to P48,659.70. Besides, only three DOT personnel were authorized to travel and attend Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) meetings," it added.

COA noted that the billeting of the DOT officials in a five-star luxury resort was due to the decision made by DOT Region VI Regional Director and lawyer Helen J. Catalbas, who said that expenses incurred should be charged against the funds of the DOT Secretary. It was of her own volition, and the COA stressed that "the government must not be made to pay for the act of a government personnel which was clearly done beyond authority granted to her."

The COA told DWC that it is not without recourse, as they may recover the expenses incurred directly from Catalbas and the other DOT personnel who benefitted from its services.