THE Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA) has failed to complete any of the three big ticket water supply projects totaling P1.25 billion even if full funding were released by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) between 2014 to 2017, the Commission on Audit revealed.
In the 2021 audit of LWUA released last July 2, the COA identified the water projects as the P541.953 million Yolanda Recovery and Rehabilitation Plan, the P527.075 million Zamboanga City Roadmap Recovery and Reconstruction Program, and the P181.386 million Marawi Recovery, Rehabilitation, and Reconstruction Program.
Agency records showed only P586.106 million has been disbursed from the available funding, leaving an unreleased balance of P664.308 million.
“The slow implementation of the identified Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) Funded Projects for the Yolanda affected areas and Zamboanga and Marawi City siege defeats the state policies of RA 10121, otherwise known as the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010,” the audit team said.
Likewise, it criticized delays in LWUA’s actions, saying the intention was to respond to the immediate needs of the residents in disaster-stricken areas and restore the normal supply of potable water.
Based on audit records, the national government released P77 million on January 8, 2014 to LWUA under the Yolanda Recovery and Rehabilitation Plan (YRRP) for the procurement and installation of generator sets, pumping equipment, and treatment system for affected provinces and municipalities.
As of December 31, 2021, auditors said P11.217 million remains unreleased.
“The long delay of seven years in the implementation of YRRP projects deprived the beneficiaries of much needed assistance,” the COA pointed out.
Another P466 million was released to LWUA for the water supply provision under the Yolanda NHA Permanent Housing Program but, as of the yearend, P68.464 million remained untouched.
Likewise, P527.075 million was transferred by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to the agency on November 16, 2015.
However, procurement problems by the Zamboanga City Water District and failed bidding processes by the LWUA caused the project to crawl at a snail’s pace so that only P85.766 million was downloaded to the ZCWD as of December 31, 2021, leaving a balance of P441.309 million.
Between 2017 and 2020, funds were turned over to the LWUA for the construction and improvement of the water supply and sewerage system in war-ravaged Marawi City.
In 2017, the agency received P38.25 million from the national government. This was followed by P41.739 million in 2018, and P101.4 million in 2020.
Of the total P181.385 million it received, only P38.068 million was utilized.
“Management informed that the delays in the implementation of the project was due to failed biddings, project site issues, and lack of signatories,” the audit team said.
