NOT one of 270 trees survived an attempt to relocate them to clear space for a P1.382-billion road project in the province of Isabela, the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office told the Commission on Audit.
In a report released on May 29, the COA said the accomplishment report on the Ilagan to Divilacan Road Rehabilitation and Improvement Project was listed at 91.08 percent but on-site inspection by a technical team showed it was only 77.4 percent complete.
The road project was funded out of a P2.9 billion loan from the Development Bank of the Philippines and was undertaken by C.M. Pancho Construction Inc.
Aside from the inaccurate assessment of the accomplishment rate, the audit team also slammed the “improper disposal of excavate materials,” insufficient documentation to prove that detailed engineering surveys and designs were undertaken, and discrepancy in the computation of unit prices showed deficiencies totaling P45.17 million.
“The aforementioned deficiencies may imply that the transactions are of doubtful regularity/legality which could result in pecuniary loss to the government and may either be suspended or disallowed in audit,” the COA warned.
Auditors also hit what they described as a “haphazard” treatment of the balled trees as the audit team found no indication that saving them was originally included in the plans and estimated program of work.
They said verification proved difficult because concerned officials did not submit the detailed estimates for Work Item No. 100 “Clearing and Grubbing” under which the removal and relocation of said trees was provided.
“The specific activity for earth-balling of trees appears to have been haphazardly included …as there was no apparent indication that is was part of that originally planned and estimated in the programmed works,” the COA added.
The provincial government insisted the work accomplishment of 91.09 percent was accurate, saying the COA-Technical Audit did not cover all structures on the project hence the low assessment report from the audit team was only based in a limited area.
It also defended the costing of the project, saying all cross drainage structures had to be torn down and replaced by newly-designed structures, hence the new unit pricing.
Quoting the Provincial ENRO report, the provincial government also said the 270 trees had to be moved as they were affected by the road right-of-way clearing.
The trees, each with trunks measuring 15 centimeters or lower, were reportedly transferred to a designated reforestation area measuring 2,430 square meters.
“However, it incurred zero survival rate despite intensive care because of the prolonged dry season prevailing in the area and the whole region,” the ENRO report said.
Because of the death of the trees, the forestry unit temporarily suspended earth balling activities.
