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Manila Bulletin devider devider MMDA management change, late procurement blamed for delays in flood control projects

MMDA management change, late procurement blamed for delays in flood control projects

Published Jun 29, 2018 12:14 pm
By Ben Rosario Management change in the Metro Manila Development Authority has been blamed for the delay in the completion of 47 out of 68 flood control projects that should have reduced flooding in various areas in Metro Manila. (MANILA BULLETIN) (MANILA BULLETIN) The Commission on Audit, in its 2017 annual audit report for MMDA released today, also noted the low disbursement of funds for flood control, pointing out that only P3.24 billion or 64.05 percent of the P5.06 billion in available funds was disbursed to finance flood control projects for the year. COA said that aside from the management problem, apparently caused by the vacancy in the top MMDA post from May, 2016 to May 2017, the late scheduling of procurement activities is another reason for the delay. During the said period, the MMDA was headed by officers-in-charge Emerson Carlos from April to August, 2016, and Thomas Orbos from August to May, 2017. It was only in May 2017 that President Rodrigo Duterte appointed Chairman Danilo Lim to head the agency. The COA revealed that contracts for 68 flood control projects programmed for implementation in 2017 costing P452,317.151.77 have been awarded last year. “Evaluaton of the accomplishments relating to locally funded projects disclosed, however, that 47 were not completed within the contract timelines,” the audit report stated. The 47 delayed projects had a total contract cost of P337.48 milioin. Among the long delayed projects were located in flood-prone areas in Malabon, Navotas, Muntinlupa, Taguig, Mandaluyong, Marikina City, Pasig City, Caloocan City, Quezon City, and Makati City. Projects include the deepening” of the Malabon-Navotas river , P28 million; drainage improvement in Tumana, Marikina City, P7 million; drainage improvement in San Agustin, QC, P8 .1 million; drainage improvement in Llano Road, Caloocan, P14.1 million; bank improvement in Maysan, Valenzuela City, PP14.33 million; riprapping of Veinte Reales Creek, Valenzuela City, P14.1 million; riprapping of Buli creek, Pasig City, P14.1 million; rehabilitation of drainage in District V, Manila; dredging of Maytunas creek, Mandaluyong City, P7.9 million and rehabilitation of riprap and desilting of Palico creek, Muntinlupa City, P4.4 million. COA said MMDA management must speed up the implementation of procurement activities and follow the approved timelines of completion. The MMDA confirmed that construction activities were indeed not pushed through on time, saying that management change has resulted in the re-organization of the bidding and awards committee. State auditors also chided MMDA for the slow disbursement of funds due to the delay in the implementation of flood control projects. “MMDA’s total authorized budget for CY 2017 amounted to P5,067,138,804.00, of which P4,400,006,194.14 or 86.83 percent was obligated but only P3,245,555,231.67 or 64.05 was actually disburseed mainly due to delays in the implementation of flood control projects,” the audit report revealed. COA reminded the agency of President Rodrigo Duterte’s warning that all agencies must ensure the obligation of programs, activities, and projects or face budget cuts in the succeeding years. “We recommended that management fast track the completion of its flood control projects to improve the utilization of agency budget,” audit examiners stressed. Earlier, Quezon City Rep. Winston 'Winnie' Castelo chided the MMDA for its snail-paced action in implementing some P25 million flood control projects in Metro Manila.
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