COA flags housing agency over unused funds

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COA

The Commission on Audit (File photo from the Philippine Daily Inquirer)

MANILA, Philippines — The Social Housing Finance Corp. (SHFC) failed to utilize the P10.36 million it received from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in 2016 for the shelter needs of families whose houses were damaged by Tropical Storm Sendong, according to the Commission on Audit (COA).

The COA said the nonutilization of the fund resulted in the failure to address the immediate needs for decent housing of families affected by Sendong.

Under the memorandum of agreement between the DSWD and the SHFC on Oct. 5, 2015, P10.36 million would be given to the latter for the shelter assistance of 148 informal settler families displaced by Sendong in Cagayan de Oro City in 2011.

The SHFC told COA that only P7.7 million was used for the housing financial assistance to 110 families affected by Sendong. The remaining P2.6 million would be refunded to DSWD.

—Nestor Corrales
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