DND halts restroom upgrade at headquarters
Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana disclosed yesterday that he stopped a project worth P553,807 for the installation of air-conditioning units and hot and cold showers in the restrooms of the Department of National Defense (DND) head office.
The Commission on Audit (COA) has flagged the DND for spending public funds amounting to P553,807 for the upgrade of restrooms at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City.
In its 2019 annual audit report on DND, the COA said the installation of air-conditioning units and hot and cold showers was considered unnecessary expenditures under Circular No. 2012-003 and Presidential Decree 1445 or the Government Auditing Code.
“Under COA Circular No. 2012-003, unnecessary expenditures are expenditures which could not pass the test of prudence or the diligence of a good father of a family; however, it can be avoided without sacrificing the attainment of the objectives and mission of the agency relative to the nature of its operation,” the COA said in its report.
Lorenzana discontinued the project, acknowledging the authority of state auditors to make sure that government funds are being spent properly.
“The COA is the body that evaluates if the people’s money is spent wisely,” Lorenzana said in a statement sent to reporters in response to COA’s findings and recommendations.
“It does not mean that if a project has been approved by Congress the COA can no longer audit it according to its mandate. It can disallow it or it can raise a red flag that the money has not been used properly,” Lorenzana added.
The DND, in a separate statement, said it has taken note of the COA findings on the renovation of comfort rooms in the DND main building, which were presented and discussed by COA during a mandatory exit interview held on Feb. 26, 2020.
“In response to the findings, Secretary Delfin Lorenzana has ordered the discontinuance of the renovation project and removal from the comfort rooms of the air-conditioning units in question, which will instead be used in other approved facilities,” DND spokesman Director Arsenio Andolong said.
Based on the audit body’s records, the DND from 2018 to 2019 has undertaken the renovation of comfort rooms for male and female and for persons with disabilities (PWDs), all located in the South Wing.
The COA said that of the total contract cost of P6.386 million for the renovation project, P553,807 were spent for unnecessary items, including six air-conditioning units, six sets of hot and cold shower, six sets of stainless steel towel racks and six additional faucets in the male and female restrooms located on the ground floor, second floor and third floor of the building; as well as three sets of hot and cold shower and three sets of towel racks in the restrooms for PWDs also located on the ground floor to the third floor.
In a reply incorporated in the audit report, the DND reasoned out that its civilian and military personnel are working on a 24-hour duty or shift, and they might need to take a bath using the common comfort rooms.
The DND said the installation of the air-conditioning units was also aimed at improving the indoor air quality and to provide a mold-free environment.