SORSOGON, Philippines – The Commission on Audit (COA) has flagged the Department of Public Works and Highways-Bicol (DPWH-Bicol) for inefficiencies and lapses that led to delays or non-implementation of infrastructure projects valued at P13 billion.
In its 2023 audit report, dated July 30, 2024, but released only in December, the COA flagged shortcomings in the implementation of projects that it said could have benefited the Bicol region.
The report showed that 31 infrastructure projects worth P560.7 million across four district engineering offices were left unimplemented. These included:
- Six projects in the Camarines Sur 1st District Engineering Office (DEO) valued at P148.8 million
- Eleven projects in the Camarines Sur 3rd DEO worth P322.2 million
- Eleven projects in the Sorsogon 1st DEO amounting to P44.7 million
- Three projects in the Sorsogon 2nd DEO valued at P43.9 million
The COA also listed 77 projects worth P2.7 billion that were suspended across various district engineering offices and the regional office. The suspended projects included:
- Three projects under the Regional Office, P40.5 million
- Three projects in Albay 1st DEO, P33.5 million
- Three projects in Albay 2nd DEO, P197.2 million
- Four projects in Camarines Norte DEO, P292 million
- Ten projects in Camarines Sur 3rd DEO, P315.5 million
- Five projects in Camarines Sur 5th DEO, P128.3 million
- Seven projects in Masbate 2nd DEO, P295.8 million
- Nineteen projects in Masbate 3rd DEO, P197.5 million
- Fourteen projects in Sorsogon 1st DEO, P533.9 million
- Nine projects in Sorsogon 2nd DEO, P322.8 million
State auditors called on the DPWH-Bicol to address the lapses and inefficiencies to ensure that the projects, which remain critical to the region’s infrastructure development, are implemented without further delays. However, the COA did not specify which projects were included in the report.
The auditors stressed that the failure and delay in project implementation were mainly caused by the DPWH’s inefficient system, particularly the “inadequacy of planning, supervision, and monitoring by management relative to project implementation.”
The audit agency further pointed out that, given the DPWH’s long experience with infrastructure projects, adequate planning should have addressed perennial issues like right-of-way (RROW) problems and conditions at project locations, which are common causes of delays.
It directed the DPWH to implement remedial measures in line with the department’s protocols to avoid further delays, which would incur additional costs. The COA emphasized that delays and non-implementation of projects deprived the intended beneficiaries of the full benefits.
The COA also noted that, aside from delays and non-implementation, P9.9 billion worth of projects in the Bicol region were “not completed within the specific contract time,” which also denied the target beneficiaries the timely use of the projects.
As part of its corrective measures, the COA directed the DPWH to “consider the disqualification and/or blacklisting of contractors involved, and initiate the immediate takeover process of terminated projects and projects with negative slippages of 15 percent or more to facilitate completion within the project timeframe.”
In addition to inefficiency, the COA called out the DPWH in Bicol for “lack of proper supervision and monitoring,” which led to various technical defects in 32 projects in Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, and Masbate.
The defects included “scaling, cracks, potholes, and unnecessary pay items for additional geotechnical investigations” totaling P3.8 million.
The DPWH-Bicol and all its DEOs were also held responsible for multiple violations of the procurement procedures under Republic Act 9184, which governs the bidding process for government infrastructure projects.
The violations included discrepancies in bid prices, delays in the evaluation process, inadequate post-qualification checks due to incomplete bidder documents, contractors being approved for overlapping projects, duplication of personnel and equipment commitments, and failure to post required project billboards meant to inform the public and ensure transparency.
The COA also highlighted the purchase of expensive mobile phones by the Albay 1st and 2nd DEOs, totaling P3.6 million. The purchases were deemed “not in accordance with the approved standard technical specifications provided by the DPWH Central Office for ICT” used for geotagging.
State auditors warned the DPWH of possible disallowance of the projects if the department fails to fully justify the lapses and violations. – Rappler.com