COA to DOE: Where are 2 M fluorescent lamps?

MANILA, Philippines - The Commission on Audit (COA) has asked the Department of Energy (DOE) to submit proof that 2,056,328 compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) worth P169.914 million were given to Leyte residents under the Philippine Energy Efficiency Project (PEEP).

In a 2014 report released yesterday, state auditors said no distribution monitoring forms (DMFs) were submitted to prove the distribution of the CFLs, contrary to the DOE’s claim.

”The DOE has responded to COA and provided the documents requested,” DOE officer-in-charge assistant secretary Patrick Aquino said in a text message yesterday.

The DOE said the DMFs were forwarded to the COA on June 15.

“Of the total 8.6 million CFLs reportedly distributed to various households, 2,056,328 pieces costing P169,914,382.64 were not supported with CFL distribution monitoring forms to prove actual distribution to the intended beneficiaries,” the COA report stated.

State auditors said the DOE also failed to conduct post-evaluation monitoring to ensure the project’s effectiveness and sustainability.

PEEP was funded through a loan from the Asian Development Bank amounting to $29.28 million and grant from the ADB-Asian Clean Energy Fund worth $1.04 million. The government provided a counterpart budget of $18.13 million.

 The project, which started in May 2009 and was completed in December 2013, was part of the government’s energy saving measures.

State auditors called on the DOE to monitor the effectiveness of the program by submitting a report on the actual electricity consumption with the use of CFLs.

The DOE should expedite negotiations with prospective local government units on the operation of the lamp waste management facility, which has remained non-operational as of Dec. 31, 2014,  state auditors added.– With Danessa Rivera