NINE public works projects of the provincial government of Samar with a combined cost of P118.8 million were found by state auditors to be either unimplemented or suspended due to road right of way issues.
The Commission on Audit (COA) has recommended that the provincial governor submit justification as to why seven of the projects have not broken ground while two have implemented work stoppages.
According to the 2022 audit of the province, funding for the public works projects were drawn against the 20 percent Development Fund equivalent to P545.775 million from Samar’s national tax allotments for the year.
Based on the list provided in the audit report, the big tickets among the unimplemented projects were the P40 million Basey to Maydolong Bypass Road to Barangay Tinabanan in Marabut (Phase 1), the P5 million portable water system project in upland barangays of Calbiga, the P3 million concreting of barangay pathway in Brgy. Salvacion, Sta. Margarita; and the P2.2 million construction of a multi-purpose civic center in Barangay Hernandez, San Jorge.
On the other hand, the projects bogged down by RROW issues were the P35 million Barangay Sawa to Tinaogan, Basey Bypass Road Phase 1 and the P30 million Barangay Majacob to Cambatutay Nuevo-Cambatutay Viejo Road.
The COA likewise asked the governor to insist on more thorough pre-construction plans moving forward to avoid similar problems from causing further delays in future projects.
In its reply to the auditors, the Office of the Provincial Engineer said the Basey to Maydolong Bypass Road and the pathway project in Sta. Margarita underwent amendments per action of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, while work of the other listed projects have commenced.
Likewise, it notified the COA that work on the RROW-affected road projects have resumed as of February 1, 2023.
