■ TALISAY FAILED TO FINISH 8 PROJECTS ON TIME: COA

Eight projects worth over P26 million in Talisay City were not completed within the contract period, and their performance bonds have also expired. The Commission on Audit has called the attention of the Talisay City Government after state auditors found in the Talisay City’s Report of Infrastructure Projects last year projects that didn’t make it within contract time. Half of these projects were implemented by the administration while the other half was awarded to contractors.

State auditors called the attention of the Talisay City Government to eight projects worth about P26 million that were not completed on time, saying it delayed the convenience that the projects could have offered the people.

In their 2016 annual audit report, the Commission on Audit found that upon verifying Talisay City’s Report of Infrastructure Projects last year, projects worth P26.2 million were not completed within their contract period.

The projects include the desilting of canals in Barangay Poblacion (P180,000); installation and maintenance of traffic lights ( P7 million); site development of an urban poor relocation site in Barangay Lagtang (P948,000); construction of a three-story school building in Barangay Bulacao (P14 million); construction of a small communal irrigation system in Barangay Manipis (P1.2 million); repair, maintenance and construction of Rural Health Unit 1 in Barangay Cansojong (P2.4 million); desilting of the Tabunok Public Market (P225,000); and desilting of canals within some parts of Barangays Tabunok, San Roque and Cansojong (P270,000).

Talisay City officials explained that four of the projects cited by COA were already completed while the two firms whose performance bonds have expired were suspended.

The delays resulted in the expiration of the performance bonds of two contractors, namely Teksource Computer System Corp. (TCSC) and Tuanson Construction (TC).

TCSC was contracted by the City in 2015 for the first phase of the installation of traffic lights and safety road devices. TCSC posted a P2.1 million performance bond.

The project was supposed to have been completed in December 2015, but it was delayed for 389 days with only 87 percent completed so far.

TC, on the other hand, was contracted to construct the school building in Bulacao Elementary School worth P14 million. The construction firm posted a P4.2 million performance bond.

But according to state auditors, the project is only 71.98 percent completed up to now.

“In addition, the delay may cause a setback in the social and economic development of the City and the public cannot readily enjoy the benefits and convenience that these projects could offer,” COA noted.

State auditors recommended to request TCSC and TC to renew their performance security considering that the projects they undertook are still not completed. /