The Commission on Audit (COA) has called the attention of the Office of the Vice President for the acquisition of equipment for its satellite offices which violated Republic Act 9184 or the Government Procurement Reform Act.
The COA also flagged the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) for failure to fully implement 33 out of its 47 projects and programs amounting to P825.318 million as of Dec. 31, 2022.
In its 2022 report, the COA said the OVP procured equipment worth P668,197 and acquired it without procedures mandated by the law. The OVP cited the purchase had the lowest price and was used for the establishment of its satellite offices (SOs) outside Metro Manila.
“As per inquiry, the immediate establishment of SOs was made due to Management’s intention to immediately expand services offered by OVP to various provinces. However, controls to ensure that government resources were utilized as intended and prevented from loss should also be considered,” the report read.
COA issued recommendations to the OVP that procurement transactions resorting to reimbursement must be stopped for defeating the purpose of the procurement law.
For the MMDA, state auditors cited delays in documentary requirements and procurement activities and poor strategies in the monitoring and implementation of the projects and programs.
Only 5 out of the 33 MMDA programs were infrastructure projects, and 28 involved consultancy services and procurement of goods and other services, the COA reported.
The COA said 14 other projects and programs under the Metro Manila Flood Management Project Phase 1 (MMFMP Phase 1) were already completed as of the end of 2022.
“The agency must expedite the implementation of programs and projects as this will also improve the quality of services rendered to the public,” it noted.
According to the MMDA reasoned out, its Project Management Office prioritized remaining procurement items and utilized continuing funds from previous years before their expiration.
The report cited that the MMDA incurred P27.426 million commitment fees due to unwithdrawn balance of loans from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank.