Wednesday, January 4, 2012

COA questions project cost of Calbayog Airport dev’t

TACLOBAN CITY – The Commission on Audit in its 2010 COA Audit Report has questioned the P19.2 million airport development project of Calbayog Airport being implemented by the Department of Transportation and Communication and a private contractor.

The P19.2 million airport development project consists of construction of runway extension, turning pad and perimeter fence.

Based on the COA Audit report, the project exceeded by P405,364.42 the COA estimated cost of P18,841,900.39.

COA Resolution 91-52 dated September 17, 1991 stated that the total contract price should be equal or less than the COA estimate plus 10%, otherwise the contract price is deemed excessive.

The state auditors also recommend to the DOTC and concerned officials to exercise prudence in the preparation of detailed estimate program of work with the reasonable contract cost.

COA also recommended that the excess amount should be deducted by the accountant in the future billings of DOTC to the contractor.

Moreover, COA had also reported discrepancies in the transferred amount of DOTC to various implementing agencies such as local government units.

In the region, three local government units were cited with discrepancies in the reports of COA.

These LGUs with balance based on DOTC Book were the provincial government of Samar with P586,000; provincial government of Eastern Samar with P74,665,55; and the municipal government of Carigara based on its book has a balance of P14,368.80 while in the book of DOTC they have a balance of P14,367.40 or a difference of P1.40.

The LGU claimed that they have already forwarded their liquidation reports to the DOTC, however in the verification with the Accounting Division it revealed that the reports were not received by the office, resulting to discrepancies, according to the COA audit report.

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