COA audit bares Baguio ‘irregular’ projects; city council wants reports
>> Sunday, April 30, 2023
BAGUIO CITY – City
councilors told the City Environment and Parks Management Office (CEPMO) to
submit to the local legislative body a report on actions taken relative to
observations and recommendations made by the Commission on Audit on city
government projects some of which were reportedly irregular for not being
completed or incurred slippages which included those based from memorandum of
agreement between the local government and Baguio Lion’s Club.
Resolution 196, series of 2023 made by the council’s committee on laws, human rights and justice, in its 5th endorsement dated March 14, 2023, said management observations and recommendations should be attended to.
Taking note of annual reports for years 2020 and 2021, the body said there was need for the city council to be appraised on actions on matters dependent on action taken by the executive on observations or recommendations.
The body said it may not be proper to expect the body to act on a contract or memorandum of agreement that was not presented to it or on one that it has not confirmed or authorized.
For the said purpose, the committee recommended that the CEPMO submit a report to the council on action taken relative to the audit observations and recommendations on the MOA the local government entered into with the Baguio City Lion’s Club.
Earlier, in her letter dated June 30, 2020, lawyer Eden D. Tingson-Rafanan, regional director of the regional Commission on Audit transmitted annual audit report on the local government for 2019 with findings and recommendations.
These included validity and accuracy of adjustments made in the amount of P148,067,240 to the Land Bank account under the PPE that cannot be established due to non-submission of relevant supporting documents thereby precluding complete validation, verification of the pertinent accounts contrary to the provisions of COA Circular No. 2010-001; completion of project ‘reforestation/urban greening project, access road opening and construction at Botanical Garden known as establishment of Baguio City arboretum phase 2’ with a contract cost of P12,292,367.92 that was delayed with the contractor incurring a significant negative slippage of 48.82 percent as of Dec. 31, 2019 and depriving constituents of timely use of the facility.
The council said out of 534 remaining local development projects from 2008-2019, only 12.36 percent or 66 projects were reported as completed as of Dec. 31, 2019 while the rest remained unimplemented defeating the purpose for which the fund was created as prescribed under the DILG and DBM Joint Memorandum circular (JMC) No. 2017-1 dat6ed Feb. 22, 2017
Programs, projects and activities indicated in the city government’s report on the utilization of local risk reduction and management fund programs, plans and activities, disclosed 64 activities of which 24 activities or 37.50 percent was fully implemented at year end for various reasons, thus, the goals and objectives of the LDRRMP were not fully attained, the council said.
Collection of market stall rentals was not efficient resulting to delinquency of payments ranging from three months to 17 years totaling P966,613 contrary to provisions of City Tax Ordinance No. 2000-001, the legislative body added.
Final, executory audit disallowances and audit charges amounting to P522,792.81 and P3,479,925.30, respectively, reportedly remained unsettled as of Dec. 31, 2019 contrary to the provisions of COA Circular No. 2009-006 dated Sept. 15, 2009.
Resolution 196, series of 2023 made by the council’s committee on laws, human rights and justice, in its 5th endorsement dated March 14, 2023, said management observations and recommendations should be attended to.
Taking note of annual reports for years 2020 and 2021, the body said there was need for the city council to be appraised on actions on matters dependent on action taken by the executive on observations or recommendations.
The body said it may not be proper to expect the body to act on a contract or memorandum of agreement that was not presented to it or on one that it has not confirmed or authorized.
For the said purpose, the committee recommended that the CEPMO submit a report to the council on action taken relative to the audit observations and recommendations on the MOA the local government entered into with the Baguio City Lion’s Club.
Earlier, in her letter dated June 30, 2020, lawyer Eden D. Tingson-Rafanan, regional director of the regional Commission on Audit transmitted annual audit report on the local government for 2019 with findings and recommendations.
These included validity and accuracy of adjustments made in the amount of P148,067,240 to the Land Bank account under the PPE that cannot be established due to non-submission of relevant supporting documents thereby precluding complete validation, verification of the pertinent accounts contrary to the provisions of COA Circular No. 2010-001; completion of project ‘reforestation/urban greening project, access road opening and construction at Botanical Garden known as establishment of Baguio City arboretum phase 2’ with a contract cost of P12,292,367.92 that was delayed with the contractor incurring a significant negative slippage of 48.82 percent as of Dec. 31, 2019 and depriving constituents of timely use of the facility.
The council said out of 534 remaining local development projects from 2008-2019, only 12.36 percent or 66 projects were reported as completed as of Dec. 31, 2019 while the rest remained unimplemented defeating the purpose for which the fund was created as prescribed under the DILG and DBM Joint Memorandum circular (JMC) No. 2017-1 dat6ed Feb. 22, 2017
Programs, projects and activities indicated in the city government’s report on the utilization of local risk reduction and management fund programs, plans and activities, disclosed 64 activities of which 24 activities or 37.50 percent was fully implemented at year end for various reasons, thus, the goals and objectives of the LDRRMP were not fully attained, the council said.
Collection of market stall rentals was not efficient resulting to delinquency of payments ranging from three months to 17 years totaling P966,613 contrary to provisions of City Tax Ordinance No. 2000-001, the legislative body added.
Final, executory audit disallowances and audit charges amounting to P522,792.81 and P3,479,925.30, respectively, reportedly remained unsettled as of Dec. 31, 2019 contrary to the provisions of COA Circular No. 2009-006 dated Sept. 15, 2009.
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