NOT one of three waste management projects of Cotabato City worth a combined P208 million was implemented last year, a double whammy for the city since all of them are funded by loans, government auditors revealed in a 2020 audit report.
In its report released last April 30, the Commission on Audit (COA) said the projects included the construction of a bio-medical and solid waste management facility (P174 million), the construction/installation of a septage management facility (P24 million), and acquisition of a lot for bio-medical and solid waste facility (P10 million).
Cotabato City is funding the solid waste management facility project through a loan drawn from the Land Bank of the Philippines-Kidapawan City branch with an annual amortization of P27.36 million for the construction phase, and P1.57 million for the lot acquisition.
According to the City Environment and Natural Resources Officer (CENRO), the project was supposed to address two problems: disposal of biohazards, including hospital waste, and reduction of the volume of solid waste going into the designated landfill.
The CENRO said he has presented the proposal to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the city government ordered a feasibility study spearheaded by two consultants.
The project was shot down as being impractical, too expensive, and too complicated.
Much of the trouble was attributed to the fact that a major part of the land area of Cotabato City is supposedly below sea level so that mitigation measures to make the proposed site in Poblacion 8 suitable would be a major cost.
The COA noted that these issues could have been recognized and resolved with proper planning, coordination with relevant government agencies.
Aside from the unimplemented projects, the audit team noted that four other projects with a total cost of P281.31 million had only been partially implemented hence failing to meet the timetable.
These are the P194.31 million procurement of heavy equipment for land development, a P35 million computerization project, the P26.9 million construction of a two-storey command center, and the P25.1 million street light project.
