COA flags LWUA for failure to return P121M

MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Audit (COA) has questioned the failure of the Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA) to return to the Department of Health some P121.5 million in unused funds meant for potable water supply projects across the country.

In a report, the audit agency said P23.3 million from 37 completed projects and P98.2 million from 14 unfinished projects remained unused, despite a 1994 COA circular ordering the return of such balances from the implementing agency to the source department.

The COA said the majority of these nonoperational LWUA projects were in Mindanao, particularly in the provinces of Lanao del Sur, Misamis Occidental, Misamis Oriental and Maguindanao.

The audit body also called out the LWUA for disbursing excess funds of up to P8.6 million to seven water districts in the provinces of Abra, Ilocos Norte, Isabela, Masbate and Samar.

Of the seven water districts, only four were operational, two were inactive and one was nonoperational, the audit body said.

But the LWUA said the savings were from the implementation of different projects and were used to complete implemented projects. —Jhesset O. Enano