CAAP completed only 16 out of 86 projects in 2 years

MANILA, Philippines — The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) has completed only 16 out of 86 airport projects, worth P9.88 billion, from 2016 to 2018, according to the Commission on Audit (COA).

In its 2020 audit report, the COA said the output of the CAAP showed the agency’s “poor performance” in the implementation of the projects.

The auditing agency said the delayed completion of the projects “deprived the public of the prompt use or benefit that could have been derived from the timely completion.”

The COA said the CAAP and the Department of Transportation (DOTr) have signed three memoranda of agreement (MOA) for the implementation of the projects, adding that the release of funds would be in three tranches.

Small-ticket items

State auditors found that the fund transfers of the DOTr to the CAAP as of Dec. 31, 2020, amounted only to P1.912 billion, or 19.32 percent, of the P9.88 billion allotted to the agency.

The COA said that out of the 86 projects, only 16 projects, mostly small-ticket items, were completed as of Dec. 31, 2020.

According to government auditors, 25 projects were still at the pre-procurement stage, 13 were already in the procurement process, 19 were undergoing construction and 11 were suspended.

For the 16 completed projects, the COA said it took an average of 30 months from the execution of the MOA to the completion of the projects.

The COA said the maximum period allowed for the completion of the projects was not observed.

Some of the delayed projects include the construction of an administration building and control tower at the General Santos Airport, expansion of terminal building at the Cotabato Airport, and the Daet Airport Development Project.

Could have been avoided

The COA said six out of the 11 suspended projects were due to causes that could have been avoided with proper procurement planning.

For example, the COA cited that the development of the Ozamis airport was suspended due to a right of way issue.

State auditors told the CAAP to monitor the status of the projects and hasten the completion and strictly adhere to the timelines of the projects.

They also recommended to the CAAP to assess the adequacy and capability of the agency’s present technical staff in handling or supervising the projects and augment the existing manpower if necessary to expedite the procurement and completion of the projects.