COA finds CAB gender dev’t funds went to buy computers

The bulk of the Civil Aeronautics Board’s gender and development fund (GAD) for 2010 went not to projects meant to uplift the status of women at the agency but to buy computers and pay Internet expenses.

The Commission on Audit (COA), which uncovered the improper use of the GAD funds, said the CAB should have used the money for its intended purpose and created more programs to address gender issues.

Under the law, all government agencies are required to formulate a gender and development plan to address gender issues and to implement programs designed to eliminate discrimination against women in their offices.

The GAD plan should be integrated into an agency’s regular activities and make up at least 5 percent of its budget.

The CAB, in reaction to the COA findings, said it had participated in projects that contributed to the protection of women and to gender-responsive governance in its offices.

These included the setting up of a “Bahay Kalinga” for abused women overseas Filipino workers; the installation of diaper changing stations at domestic airports; and the putting up of an inn for female employees to stay in and avoid having to travel at late hours that tend to be unsafe.

In its 2010 report on the CAB, the COA said that 83.54 percent of its P1.622-million expenses for GAD went to unrelated matters, specifically the purchase of computers and maintenance of Internet facilities.

“From the materials provided by the NCRFW (National Commission on the Role of Filipino Women), the purchase of equipment for general use of the agency is a nonacceptable program, project or activity under the gender and development budget,” said the COA.

It also said the CAB did not submit its GAD plans and budget to the NCRFW for review and endorsement to the Department of Budget and Management as required. Because of this, a review of the project’s impact on women was not conducted.

“Had management submitted the agency’s GAD plans and budget to the NCRFW…, the GAD budget would have been used only on valid GAD-related activities and the gender issues and concerns of the agency could have been properly addressed,” the COA said.

The COA also noted that the CAB initially set aside P700,000 for GAD projects, although its GAD expenses added up to P1.622 million. It said the P700,000 was less than 5 percent of its annual budget. It should have allocated P1.902 million for the GAD programs, it added.