COA assails Bulacan gov’t for using education funds for basketball courts
The Commission on Audit (COA) slammed the Bulacan provincial government for spending P68 million in Special Education Fund (SEF) to construct 15 basketball courts and other infastructure that could not contribute to the “delivery of top education program” to the youths in the province.
COA, in its 2016 annual audit report for the province, likewise demanded the collection of P22.6 million lent by the provincial government to various cooperatives and micro and small enterpreneurs (SMEs) groups, with at least 82 percent or P22.6 remaining unpaid in the past 10 years.
In the audit report, the audit agency also criticized the provincial government, headed by Gov. Wilhelmino Sy Alvarado, for failure to implement 11 out of 20 BottomUp Budgeting (BUB) despite the timely release of funds by the source agencies.
“Nineteen non-priority expenditures consisting of 15 projects on construction of covered courts amounting to P54,262,161.11 and four projects on construction/rehabilitation of school buildings projects amounting to P14,475,470.85 were improperly planned, charged, and paid by the provincial government of Bulacan against the Special Education Fund thereby, affecting the delivery of top education program of the fund,” COA said.
State auditors stressed that SEF can only be used for the construction, repair maintenance of school buildings and other facilities of public elementary and secondary schools as provided for under Republic Act No. 7160.
The audit report indicated that 15 covered court projects were constructed in schools with reported classroom shortage.
Four construction and rehabilitation of school buildings projects were implemented in Malolos that does not contribute special education fund to the provincial government.
Created under Republic Act No. 5447, the SEF was aimed at allocating enough funds for educational development that would prioritize the construction, repair, and maintenance of school buildings, establishment of extension classes and sports activities at the division, district, and municipal levels.
“The improper charges made to the fund affected the effective and efficient delivery of top education programs such as operation and maintenance of public schools, construction/repair/maintenance of public school buildings, educational research purchase of books and periodicals, chargeable under the SEF,” the report said.
On BUB projects, COA lamented that delays in the implementation of projects due to failure of biddings, requests for transfer of the projects already approved, and the non-submission of relevant documents.
Seven of the projects funded by the Department of the Interior and Local Government were not implemented due to the inability of the municipalities of Norzagaray and Sta. Maria to submit the required documents.