Two officials of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) have been ordered to refund government some P7,000 worth of telephone toll spent for “pasaloads.”

The Commission on Audit (CoA) issued the directive even as it warned officials of other government agencies against abusing “postpaid” telephone services given to them to ensure better communications access.

In the 2009 PCG annual audit report released recently, the CoA chided the officials of the agency for misusing postpaid telephone services.

“Pasaload” or transfer of postpaid telephone loads to other telephone lines appeared to be one of the abuses committed by PCG men.

“The use of postpaid mobile phones was not monitored resulting in unnecessary and irregular expenses and abuse on its usage contrary to CoA rules,” said CoA director Winnie Rose Encallado.

Encallado called the attention of Admiral Wilfredo Tamayo on the issues raised by audit examiners of the state audit firm.

According to Encallado, the PCG spent a total of P2,244,196.11 for mobile telephone expenses in 2009. Of the amount, P692,009.03 was spent for subscription on seven postpaid lines.

However, a check made by state auditors indicated that the PCG has been religiously paying the monthly subscription rates for four mobile phone services that are “no longer being used.”

“[Fixed] monthly subscription rates for mobile [phone] numbers 09177245402, 09178632542, 09176292528, [and] 09176294177 [give] the impression that the users may no longer be using the phone or the usage is below the minimum [fixed] monthly subscription,” the CoA report said.

It added, “Hence, the foregoing numbers are no longer in use, then the agency is wasting its resources for the payment of services no longer availed of.”

According to auditors, some of the telephone services have incurred “overdue charges” that have not been paid.

“In addition, mobile [phone number] 09177243682 had monthly usage ranging from P13,000 to P34,000, which was more than the fixed monthly subscription rate,” the report said.

The illegal sharing of loads to privately owned telephone units were noted in the billing of telephone numbers 09175355808 and 09177243681.

In reaction, Tamayuo said he has ordered the termination of postpaid lines contracted with Globe Telecoms, except for two lines that are being used by the Public Information office and the Coast Guard Action Center.

Encallado recommended the stricter monitoring of postpaid mobile line use, saying that excessive billings should be paid by concerned PCG officials.

The state auditor also ordered an end to “share load services” or pasaloads, adding that PCG should now consider a “shift to prepaid services" to put an end to the abuse of free telephone services by its officials and employes.