TRAIN derails Pampanga school projects

The Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) law has derailed the construction and repair of schools in Pampanga that should have taken place last year, the Commission on Audit (COA) said.

Provincial officials postponed the projects to 2018 because they had to adjust cost estimates to account for the price increases caused by the tax reform law, COA said in its 2017 annual audit report.

“Our validation showed that the unimplemented projects were returned for the adjustment of cost in the program of works due to the TRAIN law,” read the report.

While P131.11 million was allotted from the province’s Special Education Fund last year, only one project worth P5.805 million was implemented. —Vince F. Nonato