COA: Carcar has no docs to justify P40M GAD fund

CEBU, Philippines - The Commission on Audit has questioned Carcar City’s use of P40 million Gender and Development budget for last year, saying it could not validate how the funds were utilized as the city failed to furnish supporting documents.

“The utilization of funds for (GAD) for 2014 in the amount of P40,181,173.33 per GAD budget could not be validated due to the non-submission of management of the GAD accomplishment report together with the list of programs, projects and activities where these projects were mainstreamed, this it could not be ascertained whether the GAD funds were utilized for the intended purpose,” said COA.

Based on COA’s findings, the city last year appropriated P40 million for GAD, which is 11 percent of the P357.8-million annual budget.

Executive Order 273 mandates the implementation of gender-responsive development to promote gender equality and women’s empowerment.

Republic Act 7192 (Women in Development and Nation Building Act) requires all government agencies to review and revise all policies and programs, and provides for the allocation of at least five percent of annual budget for the implementation of these policies.

However, COA said its state auditors, who came to audit the city’s financial operations, asked GAD’s accomplishment reports or how the money was spent, but its focal person has “not submitted” any.

COA said the absence of the reports prevented it from validating where the funds went.

The audit body sent an Audit Observation Memorandum to the city last February 23.

In its latest report, COA told Carcar City government to “strictly implement” its GAD Plan and Budget and submit all reports for auditing.

“We also recommend that the GAD Focal person will coordinate with the heads of office on the implementation of GAD programs, projects and activities based on approved plans and budget,” it said. — (FREEMAN)