COA: Manila has millions of pesos in unspent ‘pork’

Manila still has millions of pesos in “pork barrel” funds that have remained untapped, according to a 2011 report of the Commission on Audit (COA).

The COA said the money came from the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) allocations of some congressmen and senators although it did not name them. The funds which were earmarked as financial subsidies for health, education and livelihood development projects or programs were placed under the city’s trust fund.

Listed as beneficiaries were government health institutions like the Ospital ng Tondo, Ospital ng Maynila, Ospital ng Sampaloc, Sta. Ana Hospital and  Gat Andres Bonifacio Hospital; the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila; and priority development projects in Districts 1, 2 and 6.

Among the projects listed in the PDAF releases were P9.75 million for priority development projects in District 2 which was released in 2007; P18.92 million for a similar item for District 1 in 2008; and P2.2 million for the purchase of patrol vehicles and communication equipment in 2011.

“Due to the failure of the concerned city officials to give preference to the implementation of the proposed PDAF projects/programs and to facilitate the transfer of the amounts due to other implementing agencies, the constituents were not able to enjoy the benefits that may have been derived therefrom in a timely manner,” COA said.

Another allocation, this time  for P1.25 million, which was supposed to go to the Department of Health’s devolved hospital and Tondo General Hospital were also affected although it was specified that the city government was not the implementing agency.

The COA asked the city government to take the necessary steps to speed up the implementation of PDAF-funded projects.