The Commission on Audit (COA) has called the attention of 17 government agencies for delayed or non-completed infrastructure projects worth P1.44 trillion.
The projects were “not executed in accordance with the plan, with noted deficiencies, not completed on time, [or were] not completed at all,” which may result in waste of government funds or delayed enjoyment of project benefits, it cited.
Such lapses could be attributed to the abandonment by the contractor, inefficiency in the monitoring of project implementation, poor planning or workmanship, and lack of coordination with local governments and other agencies.
Out of the P1.44 trillion, P1.3 trillion were 15 foreign-assisted projects of the Department of Transportation, state auditors said.
It cited different issues that caused the extension of the projects as well as possible changes in total project costs and slippages or low to no actual physical accomplishments.
“The overall causes of delays in the project implementation also resulted in the incurrence and payment of additional commitment fees for the seven FAPs amounting to P158.224 million in the calendar year 2020,” the report said.
It reported that projects of 12 state universities and colleges worth P1.1 billion were also not executed according to plan, were delayed, or were not completed at all.
Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon meanwhile branded as “criminal neglect” the non-completed government projects flagged by COA.
He said government officials responsible should be charged for causing injury to the public because of their reckless imprudence. “We borrow funds to cover the deficits in the budget. We borrow funds for vaccines. We have no funds for the typhoon victims,” said Drilon.
He said the funds identified by COA should be immediately re-aligned to provide funds to typhoon victims.
Sen. Panfilo Lacson said It is time for government prosecutors from the Ombudsman or DOJ as well as investigating agencies like the NBI and the PNP to give utmost importance and attention to the regular and special COA audit reports.
This should be done if they intend to be serious in stamping out corruption in the country.
For one, he said the audit reports provide very good leads in identifying misuse and abuse of public funds and pursuing cases against erring public officials as well as their cohorts in the private sector ie contractors, and suppliers.
He noted that so much is lost to corruption, oftentimes committed with impunity by shenanigans who continue to laugh their way to the banks while the taxpaying public is left with the proverbial empty bag,
“We owe it to the next generation of Filipinos to act now with strong political will in addressing corruption,” he added.
He said the audit reports provide very good leads in identifying misuse and abuse of public funds and pursuing cases against erring public officials as well as their cohorts in the private sector, including contractors and suppliers.