COA uncovers “unspecified” projects
TAGBILARAN CITY — The Commission on Audit has slammed the local government unit of Calape town in Bohol for listing unspecified projects worth at least P3 million, a practice that could invite public suspicions of corruption.
In its latest report, COA said the Calape LGU, led by Mayor Nelson Yu and Vice Mayor Sulpicio Yu, listed in 2016 some unverified barangay "development projects" with a P3-million allocation included in its annual budget. The town is comprised of 33 barangays.
"Our review of the 2016 Annual Budget showed that P14.8 million was appropriated for the 20 percent Local Development Fund," COA said. "Various projects were being identified to be implemented in the year 2016. However, we noted two items in the said listing totaling P3 million were enumerated in generic terms."
COA said the LGUs should prepare a Local Development Plan (LDP), a Local Development Investment program (LDIP) and an Annual Investment Program (AIP) to serve as the basis in the budget preparation.
But the COA report revealed: "In the case of the Municipality of Calape (located 40 kilometers from Tagbilaran City), its developmental goals particularly the appropriation of the P3 million was not specified, and no concrete project was indicated in the Annual Investment Plan, rather, it was listed in lump-sum amount."
It added: "The Project Procurement Management Plan (PPMP) could have already included specific plans and projects before the budget was approved."
The stakeholders are supposed to be part of the formulation of the budget. Local officials are being assigned their particular division/barangay to have a straight and open line of communication from the grassroots level to the higher authorities to address their needs. Thus, the immediate needs of the barangays could have already been drafted and included in the Annual Investment Plan, according to COA.
Without identifying the specific projects, COA said, there will be no information for the stakeholders if their proposals were carried out.
The practice, aside from putting government funds at risk due to corruption, could also lead to duplication of the various projects in cases wherein other government agencies and the national government itself are implementing the same type of projects, COA added.