COA: Mandaue broke law

CEBU, Philippines - The Mandaue City government erred when it rented equipment to implement infrastructure projects, the Commission on Audit said.

COA said the city government paid a total of P1,757,817.70  for equipment rentals for project implementation by administration in violation of R.A 9184.

It stated that among the provisions stipulated in the RA 9184 is that an LGU that wanted to undertake a project by administration, the implementing agency must have a track record of having completed or supervised a project, by administration or by contract, similar to and with a cost of at least fifty percent of the project and it should own the tools and construction equipment to be used or have access to such tools and equipment owned by other government agencies.

It also found out that the city failed to show documents for any request from DPWH or the Regional Equipment Services or any refusal by the offices on the availability of equipment for the use of the Mandaue City government.

With these observations, COA wants city officials to explain the rental of equipment despite the provisions under the implementing guidelines of RA 9184