COA hits MMDA on failed flood control projects

MANILA, Philippines - The Commission on Audit (COA) has called out the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) over its failure to complete or even break ground on several flood control projects amounting to P178.882 million.

In an annual audit report recently published on its website, the COA said 53 flood control and sewerage projects in Manila, Quezon City and Makati amounting to P168.248 million and supposed to have been implemented by the MMDA Flood Control Sewerage and Management Office (FCSMO) between 2014 and 2016 were already beyond the completion dates stated in the contracts.

The audit body said four more flood control projects in Manila and Makati amounting to P10.454 million have yet to start as of Dec. 31, 2016 even when the contracts were already awarded and the notices to proceed issued in March and June 2016.

The state auditors said the projects were not completed or implemented at all “due to inadequate planning and absence of coordination mechanism with the DPWH (Department of Public Works and Highways), concerned LGUs (local government units), communities and other agencies.”

The projects were part of the MMDA’s P800.927-million metro-wide program launched in 2014 to mitigate the adverse effects of flooding in the 17 cities comprising Metro Manila.

The COA said that though some of the reasons for the delay in the projects’ implementation were out of the control of the MMDA such as typhoons or unfavorable weather.

“However, the issues on the relocation of informal settlers and the need for coordination with the LGUs, DPWH and other concerned agencies are factors which are unintentional but procedural and consequential that affect the timely completion of the projects,” the COA said.

Newly installed MMDA chief Danilo Lim said he would not interfere in the COA’s legal process but instead address any anomalies under his watch.

The projects were awarded during the term of former MMDA chairman Francis Tolentino.

Lim, who was appointed more than a month ago, said one of President Duterte’s orders is for him to review all of the MMDA’s contracts as he apparently knew of irregularities within the agency. – With Robertzon Ramirez