By Ben Rosario The Commission on Audit has flagged the medical supply transactions of th provincial government of Pampanga, noting procured items were overpriced by as much as 690 percent over those sold in popular drug stores. Commission on Audit (MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO) In its 2017 annual audit report for the province, COA also called out officials for the low completion rate of programmed infrastructure projects for education development and other purposes. COA disclosed that prices of consigned medicines were higher by P1,286,010.33 if compared to prevailing market price of those listed as Essential Drug. Last year, the province resorted to consignment arrangement in getting medical supplies for its 11 district hospitals. Auditors compared the reasonableness of the prices of purchased medicines with those sold in leading drugstores. To determine the true price value, the comparisons were made between exactly similar brand and description. “The prices of at least 26 drugs and medicines acquired through consignment were still higher by 3.41 to 690.08 than the prevailing market prices contrary to Department of Health Administrative Order No, 2006-039,” COA said. Audit examiners have also discovered that some P4.68 million worth of drugs and medicines were not listed in the Philippine National Drug Formulary, , thus, lacked assurance that these are of “good quality and essential”. COA also chided officials for the snail-paced implementation of infrastructure projects for development and education. Audit was revealed that Pampanga registered a completion rate of 32 percent of its programmed projcets under 20 percent Development Fund because of “inadequate planning on its procurement activities and inefficiency in its procurement procedures.” This deprived Pampanga constituents of “early enjoyment of the intended benefits” from the project. “Unutilized as of year end is P249.13 million on its continuing appropriations CY 2015 and 2016 and P189,158,327.59 of current appropriation,”COA revealed. Among the projects that were not implemented last year were rehabilitation and construction work for four district hospitals; five multi-purpose halls and bildings, covered courts and evacuation center. “We also noted that 23 or 43 percent of the projects were for the issuance of Notice of Proceed while other remaining projects were either cancelled because these were already constructed or implemented by other government agencies,” COA disclosed. The state audit agency also chided the provincial government for registering a “low completion rate of 4.43 percent of its P131.11-million allotment” for Special Education Fund for the construction and repair of school buildings. The inability to fully implement the infrastructure projects had deprived “students of the early enjoyment of the benefits there from.” Provincial officials vowed to comply with the audit recommendations.