THE COMMISSION on Audit (CoA) has cited the Manila City government for failing to fully utilize its development fund (DF), which in 2018 alone amounted to P18.517 million. CoA said in its 2018 annual audit report that one of the reasons for not maximizing the development fund is the savings or unexpended balances, which were not re-appropriated to eligible development projects. “The previous year’s audit of the 20% DF (development fund) disclosed a total savings/unexpended balances of P17,744,639.34 for the implementation of development projects from CYs 2011 to 2016. In CY 2017, additional savings/unexpended balance amounting to P772,541.76 were noted,” said the report. The state auditors also noted that in the previous 24 years, development projects worth P95.408 million, which include road improvement and flood control projects, urban greening, and construction of house units, remained unimplemented. CoA said the failure to implement these projects “could pose risk that the desired socio-economic development as envisioned by the City will not be totally achieved.” The auditing agency also reported that the lack of proper planning resulted in the delay of the 47 awarded projects and non-procurement of 10 projects. — Vince Angelo C. Ferreras

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