Avila confident CMO can explain COA’s issue

A DAVAO City Councilor said Monday that the City Mayor’s Office can answer on the report of Commission on Audit (COA) on the misuse of Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (LDRRM) funds by the city.

City Councilor Leonardo R. Avila III said yesterday that he is sure the CMO is capable of

explaining the P45-million procurement of various motor vehicles for LDRRM even if this is not in the list specified by the Local Disaster Risk Reduction Investment Plan.

“Para sa amin disaster kasi depends on how you define it, the law says you can also prepare, part of the funds you can use to prepare against disaster. The new law on disaster management does not only talk about addressing the disaster when it happens. We also talk how about how to prevent and minimize the risk when it happens so it has to be before. I think nasa interpretation lang yan ng COA kung paano, the city is quite capable of answering that I’m sure,” Avila said.

The COA report said that “within the year the several motor vehicles were procured, charged and paid for against the LDRRMF for distribution to various offices. However, the LDRRMFIP does not include the provision for motor vehicles as part of its programs/projects/ activities for disaster preparedness and mitigation in CY 2014”. The report said that the lack of details on projects that will be funded by the LLDRRMFIP led to questions on the appropriateness of the funds. COA also suggested for the reevaluation of the planned procurements “in terms of its necessity or the exigency in line with the implementation of the DRMM Plan to avoid inappropriate disbursements/charges to LDRRMF.”