ASSESSMENT OF PROPERTY INVENTORY MANAGEMENT PRACTICES IN THE PROVINCIAL GENERAL SERVICES OFFICE OF EASTERN SAMAR

As public sector governance adapts to administrative modernization and digital transformation, effective property inventory management is vital for ensuring local government asset accountability and operational efficiency. This study evaluated the property inventory management practices in the Provincial General Services Office (PGSO) of Eastern Samar, focusing on property acquisition and receipt, warehousing and storage control, inventory tracking and record-keeping, and asset reconciliation and disposal. A descriptive-comparative quantitative research design was employed, involving 36 key personnel comprising 12 core PGSO supply staff and 24 departmental property custodians across executive departments. Data were gathered using a validated 5-point Likert scale survey questionnaire and analyzed through weighted means and an independent samples t-test. Results revealed that while property acquisition and receipt maintained a strong baseline (x̄ = 3.82, Good), significant administrative bottlenecks persisted in warehousing (x̄ = 3.15, Fair), asset reconciliation (x̄ = 3.24, Fair), and inventory tracking (x̄ = 2.88, Fair), resulting in an overall grand mean of 3.27 (Fair / Partially Implemented). The t-test revealed a statistically significant difference in perceptions between PGSO supply staff (x̄ = 3.52) and departmental custodians (x̄ = 3.21, t = 3.184, p = 0.002), confirming that central supply staff perceive higher implementation levels while end-user custodians experience operational delays, communication gaps, and stock reconciliation lags. The study recommends implementing a barcode-integrated Digital Supply and Asset Tracking System (DSATS), upgrading warehouse safeguards, establishing mandatory monthly joint reconciliations with the Accounting Office, and conducting capacity-building workshops aligned with Republic Act No. 12009 standards.