COA to BFAR: Account for P237.5-M DAP funds

MANILA, Philippines - The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), an attached agency of the Department of Agriculture, received P237.5 million from the Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP) of the government in 2011.

Records showed that the money was to be used for mangrove rehabilitation and aquasilviculture and community-based multi-species hatchery projects in various parts of the country.

The Commission on Audit (COA), in a 2013 report released yesterday, took notice of the BFAR’s failure to account for the DAP funds through proper liquidation.

State auditors said the money was given to the agency through a Special Allotment Release Order (SARO) dated Oct. 19, 2011.

The funds were eventually transferred by BFAR’s regional offices to various state universities and colleges (SUCs) in the regions, except for P826,560, which was allotted to the central office.

“As of this date, the BFAR Regional Fisheries Offices (RFOs) have not yet submitted reports as to the fund utilization and project implementation in the regions,” the COA report said.

“This was due to the late submission of the liquidation reports of the SUCs, to whom the funds were transferred,” state auditors explained.

DAP, a program of the Aquino administration that sought to speed up or accelerate government spending, has been declared partly unconstitutional by the Supreme Court and has been discontinued.

BFAR is a line agency of the DA tasked by law “to promote the development, conservation, management, protection and utilization of fisheries and aquatic resources of the Philippines.”

The job includes providing economical, efficient, and effective fisheries services to fishpond operators, fishermen and other members of the community.

BFAR also implements fishery laws and policies, plans and programs and inspects fishery demonstration farms, nurseries, fishery projects and fishery stations.