Watchdog in hot water over missing P10-million fund

MANILA, Philippines -  A non-governmental organization (NGO) advocating a more efficient smoke emission testing process for motor vehicles at the Land Transportation Office (LTO) and their accredited private emission testing centers (PETCs) is in trouble over P10 million that is allegedly missing.

The Coalition of Clean Air Advocates (CCAA), an NGO that has partnered with the LTO to fight irregularities in car smoke emission testing, is being questioned by four information technology (IT) firms accredited by the government to provide connectivity to PETCs, over P10 million they have given to promote compliance to the Clean Air Act.

The IT firms – Cyberlink, ETC IT, Eurolink and RDMS – pooled the money to provide CCAA, headed by Herminio “Jojo” Buerano, funds to support initiatives launched to promote cleaner air in the country.

However, the IT firms questioned CCAA over the disbursement of the P10-million fund as they noted the alleged lack of advocacy efforts by the NGO.

Regional chapters of the CCAA have also raised questions on the supposed failure of the CCAA head office, led by Buerano, to send them operational funds, which they said has prevented them from conducting projects in their respective areas.

Buerano himself could not be reached for comment.