Agusan Sur told to liquidate P56-M poverty alleviation fund

MANILA, Philippines – The provincial government of Agusan del Sur has been told to account for the over P56.2 million in government funds it allegedly spent for a poverty alleviation program in 2006.

In a 2014 report released recently, the Commission on Audit (COA) said the provincial government has not submitted a liquidation report when the project was supposed to have been completed in 2008.

State auditors said they did not receive any report showing how the provincial government implemented the Mindanao sustainable settlement area development program.

The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) was directed to demand proper accounting of the funds from the provincial government.

The COA said the project's infrastructure components was implemented by NIA through the local government units.

Records show the fund, released to the provincial government in 2006, was intended to procure irrigation pumps.

The COA said there was no monthly reconciliation report from NIA that could show how the money was spent.