P54M infra projects in PUP stalled
Three locally-funded infrastructure projects worth P54 million in Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) was not implemented due to delayed action of officials reflecting non-conformance to their commitment to deliver services and goods within the budget year 2018, the Commission on Audit (CoA) reported.
In its 2018 annual audit report, CoA said that the state-university failed to implement the three projects funded through the 2018 General Appropriations Act (GAA) amounting P54,128,000.
The delays were due to the slow action of the concerned PUP officials which CoA noted as reflection of non-conformance with the commitment and vision of the government to pay and deliver goods and services within the budget year as stated in the 2018 People’s Budget under a joint circular of the Department of Budget and Management, Department of Finance and National Economic Development Authority.
These projects include the completion of the College of Engineering Building in PUP-Maragondon, Cavite, completion of multi-purpose building and sports facilities and construction and rehabilitation of the Academic Building in PUP Sta. Mesa, Manila. According to the CoA report, the building in PUP-Maragondon started last 20 January and shall be completed by 17 November this year.
The multi-purpose and sport facilities building started on 11 January and shall be completed on 7 November this year. The rehabilitation of the Academic Building started on 8 January and should be completed last 8 May.
“The three infrastructure projects of PUP although awarded and obligated in CY 2018, were not actually completed or started in CY 2018 but will commence in CY 2019 and completed based on contract agreement,” CoA stated.
CoA reiterated that under the joint circular, the National Government Fiscal Calendar was crafted to recommend timetable of activities and processes from planning to budgeting to execution to accountability reporting, including procurement, which agencies are required and mandated to follow.