STATE auditors have warned of possible waste of government funds relative to P1.44 trillion worth of infrastructure projects suffering from delays, defects, poor planning, and poor workmanship.
In the 2020 Annual Financial Report (AFR) covering all national government agencies released last December 17, the Commission on Audit identified the 17 agencies entrusted to undertake the said public works projects.
“Infrastructure projects implemented by 17 agencies and 12 SUCs (state universities and colleges) amounting to P1.44 trillion and P1.1 billion, respectively, were either not executed in accordance with the plan with noted deficiencies, not completed on time, not completed at all which may result in waste of government funds or delayed enjoyment of project benefits,” the COA said.
By order of the amounts involved, these are the Department of Transportation (DOTr) with 15 projects totaling P1.313 trillion; Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) with 3,283 projects worth P108.32 billion; Supreme Court with 61 pending halls of justice with a budget of P5.123 billion and 35 information technology projects with a P3.43 billion price tag; DOTr-Land Transportation Office (LTO) with the P3.19 billion road IT project;
Department of Health (DOH) with P2.832 billion idle or unutilized infrastructure under the Health Facilities Enhancement Program (HFEP); Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) with 29 delayed jail construction works and four others abandoned by contractors amounting to P2.303 billion; Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) with 108 delayed flood control projects worth P1.28 billion; and the Philippine Air Force (PAF) with the long-delayed implementation of the P1-billion replication project in Lumbia Airport, Cagayan de Oro City.
Also listed were the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) with delayed facility-upgrade worth P289 million in Sablayan Prison and Penal Farm; Philippine Science High School System (PSHS) with contracts for new buildings worth P436.3 million; Department Education (DepEd) with defective works on various electrification projects in different regions totaling P161.46 million; and the Philippine Army (PA) with delayed construction and undelivered procurement projects worth a combined P159.64 million.
The assigned audit team for DOTr recommended that the Office of the Secretary “directly or closely monitor the execution of the action plans to address issues/setbacks” and to require project management officers and stakeholders to exert efforts to reduce delays and maximize utilization of funds from loans.
The rest of the agencies were reminded to “supervise project implementation in accordance with plans, specifications, and timelines” to meet completion deadlines.
Auditors also urged speedy action on the part of agency officials to rescind contracts on abandoned projects and award these to competent contractors.
At the same time, they sought blacklisting of erring contractors and forfeiture of performance security and warranty from insurance companies.
