COA allows pre-audit of DOT contracts

MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Audit has agreed to conduct pre-audit of contracts for the Department of Tourism, Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat said.

Puyat said the COA only do post-auditing of projects but she said COA Chair Michael Aguinaldo agreed to help her and conduct the pre-review of projects to avoid anomalies.

“I just leave it up to the proper agency which is the COA,” Puyat said in an interview during the annual meeting of the Makati Business Club last Tuesday.

“I will not move without the COA's approval and also they will be strengthening our internal control system to make sure that the money is not wasted and make sure that it is effectively used,” she said.

The tourism chief said COA already gave DOT the auditors and the agency has started working with them.

She said there are several existing contracts being reviewed.

Puyat only named P80 million “Buhay Carinderia” as among the projects being reviewed. She, however, explained that other contracts being reviewed are what she deemed “questionable.”

Buhay Carinderia has been suspended for lack of transparency. Puyat said it went through sponsorship instead of bidding, which is a practice of Tourism Promotions Board, its presentor.

READ: TPB's ‘Buhay Carinderia’ on back burner over lack of proper bidding

Puyat said the projects under review are in the meantime suspended while the DOT waits for the state auditor’s approval.

“We just can’t rush COA,” Puyat said.

Puyat said other projects that went through proper bidding may proceed.