COA: Gov’t projects must always have signboards

CEBU, Philippines - Government projects undertaken by private contractors should have signboards installed right at the project site that contain important information so the public may know what the project is about and for them to help the officials monitor how it is being implemented.

The Commission on Audit had found out that Cebu City officials failed to strictly implement the provisions of law that require private contractors to install billboards that will indicate the nature of their project, the amount of project, how long the project will take to be completed and other information.

State auditors inspected some infrastructure projects being implemented by private contractors in different parts of Cebu City and discovered that they were not complying with the provisions of  COA Circular No. 2013-004.

Six of the eight projects inspected by the state auditors did not have signboards displaying information about the project.

But the project in-charge of the construction of the City Resource Management & Development Center in Barangay Taptap explained that they installed a signboard but this was hit and destroyed by their backhoe. However, COA said there was no sign of any damaged signboard near the construction site.

COA also observed that while the contractor of the bridge connecting the mountain barangays of Bonbon and Buot did install a signboard near the bridge, it lacked the required information.

The state auditors further said that the city officials did not submit the list of all ongoing government projects and those that are to be implemented during the year.

The COA regional office has recommended to Mayor Michael Rama to always require the city engineer to provide the state auditors with a list of all ongoing government projects so they can fully monitor the implementation.

The law requires the head of government agencies to inform COA within 10 days after the awarding of the contract for infrastructure projects or before the start of the program activity, otherwise the concerned officials shall be subject to administrative liability.  (FREEMAN)