Let agency explain DAP milk fund–Palace

Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines–Malacañang on Monday said the issues raised by the Commission on Audit on the milk feeding program funded by the controversial Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP) should best be explained by its implementing agency, the National Dairy Authority (NDA).

Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. also dismissed critics questioning the involvement of President Aquino’s sister, Victoria Elisa “Viel” Aquino-Dee, who is the co-chair of the Assisi Development Foundation (ADF).

The ADF was the nongovernment organization (NGO) tapped to implement the program funded from the DAP funds allotted to lawmakers.

“Di ba’t simula’t sapul sinabi naman natin na ang mga ahensiya ng pamahalaan na gumamit ng pondo na bahagi nung Disbursement Acceleration Program ay may pananagutan,” Coloma said. “At tungkulin nila ngayon na sagutin yung mga obserbasyon at patunayan na ginamit nila sa maayos na paraan yung pondo ng bayan (Ever since, we said the government agencies were the one using and are therefore accountable for the funds under the DAP…And it is their responsibility to respond to such observations and prove that they properly used the people’s money.)”

“Ang mahalaga din dito ay yung responsibilidad ng implementing agency, yung National Dairy [Authority] na attached agency ng Department of Agriculture dahil yung binabanggit na NGO ay katuwang lamang ng ahensiya ng pamahalaan (What is important here is the responsibility of the implementing agency, the NDA, which is an attached agency of the Department of Agriculture because the mentioned NGO is only a partner of the said agency),” he added.

The Inquirer ran a story on Monday on the COA report questioning the P230-million in DAP funds allocated for the milk feeding program. The audit report said not only did they find dubious signatures but that there were also faulty monitoring systems, among others.

But Coloma said such audit procedures and deficiencies were regular occurrences.

He said it was better to wait for the response of the NDA and the subsequent decision of the COA, if it will file a notice of suspension or disallowance.

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