COA scores guv for 'unequal distribution of Capitol wealth'
Be fair and disregard political affiliation. While at it, carefully allocate to legitimate proponents of the province.
Such summed up yet another Audit Observation Memorandum (AOM) issued by the Commission on Audit (COA) to Iloilo Governor Niel Tupas.
With nearly P188 million worth of development projects of 2007 audited, the COA raised questions on over P63.2 million worth of other projects supposedly implemented through "financial assistance."
The findings caused the issuance of AOM Reference No. 2008-09 by State Auditor IV Marietta Sofia as Audit Team Leader and State Auditor V Arlene Togonon, Regional Cluster Director.
The questioned millions are from the Community Direct Action Projects (CDAP) pegged at over P30.6 million. Multi-million questions too on P17 million worth of projects released under the Priority Barangay-Based Social Development Assistance Program (PBBSAP), and over P15.6 million in Minimum Basic Needs/Millenium Development Goals Programs (MBN/MDG).
COA noted how all three project-sources with total value of over P63.2 million were under the Governor's Office and "not fully supervised and monitored thereby the proper utilization of the funds appropriated thereof, the status of implementation of each project, and the effectiveness of the projects could not be ascertained."
To note, the Local Government Code mandates local governments to set aside a given percentage for a development fund with local chief executives held responsible in ensuring that respective locality "optimally utilize" such.
CDAP as designed has the main purpose to improve the quality of life of the general populace particularly the reduction of poverty province-wide.
The COA validated a total of 420 infrastructure works in 42 Iloilo towns yet sadly at the end of fiscal year 2007, COA discovered 95% has no report and only 5% was completed.
Further still, COA took note of the unequal distribution of Capitol wealth.
A cursory look into the submitted documents for the commission's post-audit role disclosed the Fifth District getting a significant 42% of the share, highest here is the governor's hometown Barotac Viejo. First district was the lowest at 8% while three other districts a far second, third and fourth placer with 15%, 17% and 18% respectively in funding share.
Practically the same scenario in the PBBSAP where 73% of the projects had "no report" as status and only 21% completed. Again, Fifth District and the governor's hometown got the biggest share and First District last.
MBN/MBG projects of over P15.6 million had 88% "no report" status and the same statistics in projects monitored and validated by the COA – Fifth District still the runaway winner and First District, last in terms of availed governor's office attention.
COA was most precise in its report while noting yet another deficiency of a "lump sum" appropriation "thus the intended beneficiaries were not clearly identified beforehand thereby, the five districts in the province seemed not fairly benefited by the aforementioned projects."
Most precise too in telling the governor, "The allocation of funds for the CDAP projects were apparently unfair. There were districts/municipalities who received less projects with immaterial amount while other districts/municipalities were granted several projects with considerable amount."
COA also wants answers as to why completed projects in 2007 "were very minimal" with CDAP pegged at 5%, PBBSAP at 21% and MBN/MDG at 11% only.
"This deferred the delivery of basic services and facilities to the constituents thus hampered the improvement of the people's quality of life," the COA team stated.
The "no report" projects meanwhile reached a total of P30,848,500 with COA expressing suspicion and doubts on where the money is now.
"In addition, it created doubts that the specific objectives presented in the discussion for each project above were fully attained," the commission went.
Yet nevertheless, COA in the same AOM gave credit to the governor for "implementing most of its 20% Development Fund Projects…"
Such, as the government's independent auditing body added some clear advice.
"We recommend that the Governor as the Chairman and the members of the Provincial Development Council propose and establish realistic strategic plans and guidelines in undertaking various development projects of the Province," the COA said while adding how the administration "must be fair and disregard political affiliation in granting financial assistance projects to proponent municipalities and barangays so that the most marginalized sector of the locality will be truthfully benefited thus improving their quality of life and making them self-reliant and productive. The funds for the projects must be carefully allocated to legitimate proponents in the different districts/municipalities of the province."