The Commission on Audit has flagged alleged massive irregularities in more than P2.2 billion worth of procurements by the Bangsamoro region’s education ministry, citing payments made without required documentation and possible violations of procurement laws.
Mohagher Iqbal, chief of the Bangsamoro Ministry of Basic, Higher and Technical Education (MBHTE), said he has yet to read the COA reports and will consult his lawyers while consolidating comments from the agency’s finance and internal audit teams, as well as the resident auditor.
He added that agency heads are also seeking a probe into how the COA reports “reached the mainstream media when those documents were confidential.”
Initial findings by COA’s Special Audit Team showed that disbursements under MBHTE in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao were processed and paid despite missing key supporting documents required under government auditing and procurement rules.
The audit covered two major transactions totaling P2.22 billion: P1.77 billion for textbook procurements allegedly disbursed in a single day for the 2025–2026 school year, and P449.24 million paid to a lone supplier for learners’ and teachers’ kits. Both transactions, the report said, appeared to have bypassed standard review processes.
In total, auditors examined 73 disbursement vouchers amounting to about P2.25 billion that were “processed and fully paid based only on certifications” by MBHTE officials despite non-compliance with Presidential Decree No. 1445 and the Government Procurement Reform Act.
“Due to the certifications made, the transactions were paid despite non-submission of the standard supporting documents, to the disadvantage of the government,” the report said.
The vouchers were certified by the ministry’s finance division and approved for payment by the education minister or deputy minister.
The audit also identified “material defects” in the awarding of 53 contracts worth P1.95 billion, including irregularities in joint venture arrangements where bids failed to properly identify joint venture entities. As a result, contracts were awarded to only one partner instead of the legally constituted joint venture, potentially weakening accountability in case of breaches.
For 41 projects totaling P1.48 billion involving learning resources, the audit found that contracts were executed without requiring performance security before signing, a key safeguard under procurement rules.
Separate findings cited irregularities in a P4.73 million procurement contract for an education summit, where required bond documents were undated and incomplete. Auditors said the supplier should have been disqualified during the bidding process.
The audit further flagged MBHTE’s failure to impose about P16.07 million in liquidated damages for a 520-day delay in delivering small armchairs for public schools under a P30.9 million contract. The goods were delivered well beyond the 60-day contract period without documented approval for extensions.
The findings come amid concerns over the education sector’s performance in the Bangsamoro region, as noted by the Second Congressional Commission on Education, which cited persistent gaps in learning outcomes.
COA said concerned officials have been asked to respond, warning that failure to submit explanations within the prescribed period would lead auditors to finalize their conclusions based on available records.
