MANILA – The Commission on Audit (COA) has flagged the provincial government of Marinduque for failing to utilize the Php 33,314,993.03 budget provided for the provision of health services and supplies, assistance to typhoon victims and road projects.
Under Section 17 of RA No. 7160, local governments are responsible for being the “implementing agency for projects, programs and facilities” which benefit their constituency.
According to the audit report, the purpose of the funds was for upgrading various provincial roads, constructing emergency shelters and the formulation of sustainable livelihood programs, among others. All of which were expected to be completed within the year of the granting of the fund.
However, according to state auditors, due to “poor implementation and lack of effort in monitoring”, a number of the projects were delayed, affecting the delivery of the facilities to the public and deprived its intended beneficiaries from their positive impact.
The commission recommended that the province accounting department take steps to evaluate the massive unutilized accounts and consider remedies so that the funds would be available for use by the provincial government. – This story was first published on Politics.com.ph