COA report on unliquidated DAP funds misleading – OPAPP

MANILA, Philippines – A Commission on Audit (COA) report that the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) has incurred P691 million in unliquidated Development Acceleration Program (DAP) funds is misleading.

That’s the answer of OPAPP executive director Luisito Montalbo to a COA report that the agency failed to respond to a communication dated Nov. 6, 2014 asking for the status of projects covered by the P662-million fund which the report identified as unliquidated.

“It is not true that we did not respond,” he said.

“We have submitted our report, duly received by COA last Jan. 13, 2015, where we accounted for all of the projects covered in the P662-million fund using the format they required.

“This debunks allegations that the P662-million fund was missing or unaccounted for.”

Montalbo said OPAPP has always maintained its commitment to good governance, especially to transparent and accountable management.

“It is for this reason that we have consistently practiced due diligence in the implementation of our programs, and strict compliance with government auditing and accounting rules and regulations,” he said.

“We have provided responses to all COA inquiries and observations through submission of Reports of Management Actions and Plans, which are discussed during audit exit conferences, the latest of which was held last October.”