COA questions Alegria’s P23.6M market project

CEBU, Philippines - The Commission on Audit has questioned the P23.6 million infrastructure project of the Municipality of Alegria for failure to observe the Government Procurement Reform Act.

State auditors found out that the municipal government failed to advertise the invitation to bid for the project in the newspaper of general circulation.

COA said that the contract entered into by Velonta Construction and Supply and the Municipality of Alegria for the construction/rehabilitation and improvement of the town’s public market was not advertised in violation of the procurement law.

“We recommend that the BAC should adhere and observe fully the Implementing Rules and Regulations of Republic Act 9184 and COA Circular 87-278 in order to avoid suspension or disallowance in audit,” read the 2013 audit report.

 The Bids and Awards Committee in its reply acknowledged that the said project was unintentionally not advertised in the newspaper of general circulation.

COA further recommended the immediate submission of the Approved Budget for the Contract including the detailed breakdown of estimates and/or unit cost analysis for each work item to facilitate the Contract Review by Technical Inspection and Technology Services (TITS) department.

 The BAC also assured to retrieve the original copy for it was part of the documents turned over to the new municipal mayor in July 2013.

 COA noted that the contract documents for the project including the  disbursement voucher representing payments for 15 percent mobilization fee amounting to P3.5 million with check dated June 20, 2013 were submitted to the team on January 16, 2014, one year from the date of Notice of Award which was on January 17, 2013. (FREEMAN)