COA calls out PCA, NEA over P2-B Yolanda funds

FILE – Residents queue for relief goods in Barangay 88 in Tacloban
City a few days after the city was devastated by
Supertyphoon “Yolanda.” —RICHARD REYES

The Commission on Audit has called out the Philippine Coconut Authority over the failure to “properly account” for P2.453 billion in funds for the Yolanda Recovery and Rehabilitation Program.

In its 2016 Annual Financial Report on Government-Owned or Controlled Corporations, COA said PCA had not properly safeguarded the amount due to the absence of fund utilization reports, and use of the fund for unrelated purposes.

COA also cited the lack of a provision for specific timelines in the memoranda of agreement for PCA’s Yolanda-related projects. It also pointed to poor planning that resulted in delays and the “low implementation rate” of the projects, at the expense of the intended beneficiaries.

Meanwhile, payments of cash for work incentives by the Eastern Visayas and Central Visayas offices in the respective amounts of P5.814 million and P0.13 million were found “highly questionable since the recipient farmer-beneficiaries are dubious.”

COA also called out the National Electrification Administration for its failure to exert more effort in recovering a P272.459-million balance that were not spent by electric cooperatives.

Auditors said the unused subsidies meant to help restore power in the affected areas should be returned to NEA.

Some disbursements for salaries and unauthorized honoraria, as well as other purposes not related to the calamity, were found to be improperly charged against the Yolanda fund as well.

Lastly, COA said that as of the end of the year 2016, the National Food Authority had spent only P58.138 million, or 52.28 percent of the P111.205 million received under YRRP.

COA said this adversely affected the warehousing activities of affected provinces, especially as congestion affected the condition and quality of stored grain stocks.