COA: DCWD not transparent

THE Commission on Audit (COA) said Davao City Water District (DCWD) has failed to effectively provide transparency of its projects, programs, and activities (PPAs) to the public.

In COA’s August audit report on DCWD, it revealed that DCWD has not provided means to make available in its bulletin boards or any other signboards the publicity requirements as stated in COA Circular 2013-004.

“All government agencies shall provide with a list of all on-going government PPAs and those that are to be implemented during the year in their bulletin or sign boards,” COA Circular 2013-004 stated.

The list shall include the project name, implementing unit or office, brief description of the PPA, contractor, funding source, cost or approved budget, project duration, and location.

Regardless of DSWD’s usage of social media, publicity materials have to be updated on its signboards and bulletin boards considering that it is the traditional form of transparency provision.

“This will make the public more dependent to other sources available yet less reliable (such as the social media), which may lead the public to higher risks of misinformation and may result in public distrust of the District,” COA said.

The Commission then urged DCWD to ensure at all times that reports on PPAs are updated and accurate especially on the extensions of completion dates and contract costs as these matters are seen as the important information needed to be made known to the public.

Management of DCWD said to the Commission that the recommendations from COA are noted and well-taken.