Citing the lack of transparency on the use of billions of pesos in the government’s anti-insurgency program, Senate Minority Leader Franklin M. Drilon backed the Commission on Audit’s plan for a special audit on the budget of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict.
“The COA’s timely intervention is welcome” in light of serious concerns over the disbursement of funds allotted to the NTF-ELCAC,” Drilon said.
He added that “the COA should keep an eagle eye on these funds especially with the birth of a new program called Barangay Development Program.” The minority chief earlier said that the huge funds could be used for 2022 elections.
Under the proposed P4.5-trillion 2021 national budget, over P19 billion is allotted to the NTF-ELCAC, P16.4 billion of which will go to its Barangay Development Program. Through the program, the government plans to distribute P20 million to various barangays that have been cleared of communist rebels, which they can use to build farm-to-market road, school building, water and sanitation system, health stations, electrification, as well as for agricultural, livelihood and technical vocational trainings/projects; and assistance to indigent individual or families.
Drilon, however, questioned the manner of disbursements, saying the task force is given too much discretion. Besides, Drilon said that
the programs cited can be funded through implementing agencies, which is the common practice.
Drilon doubted the barangays’ capacity to implement the projects, adding that the setup by which the projects will be implemented is too complicated as it creates unnecessary bureaucratic layers.
Budget Secretary Wendel Avisado said that for barangays that are not capable of implementing the projects, the municipal or city government can handle the implementation.
Drilon said it complicates the process, adding the barangays will be forced to enter into numerous agreements with implementing agencies.
He said this kind of setup makes it hard to audit the funds and guard against abuses and corruption.
“The money going from one hand to another, we can expect what happens next. This is exactly the kind of setup that allows corruption to thrive. We must avoid this in the budget if we really want to enhance transparency and accountability on the use of funds. Let the agencies handle the projects and let them be accountable for the funds,” Drilon
said.
The COA cited possible difficulties it may face considering that the funds would come from the budget of the different agencies involved in the program.
Drilon said these difficulties cited by COA should be addressed in the 20201 national budget. He said that the Department of Budget and Management should provide the names of over 820 barangays that stand to benefit from the program.