COA: Taguig failed to use P109.6-M PDAF

MANILA, Philippines - The city government of Taguig had more than P109.6 million in pork barrel funds from different lawmakers for various projects last year but the money was never utilized, according to a Commission on Audit (COA) report released last week.

With the temporary restraining order (TRO) issued by the Supreme Court against the use of priority development assistance fund (PDAF), it is now unclear if Taguig would still be able to make good use of the money for the benefit of its constituents.

COA said Taguig received a total of P123 million from the PDAF of senators and congressmen for various programs, projects, and activities (PPAs).

The money was supposed to be used for the construction of a school building at the Signal Village National High School, livelihood and or micro-entrepreneurship training for displaced migrant workers and their families, the implementation of alternative learning system, and the implementation of clean water projects.

However, accounting records show that only P13.4 million or 11 percent of the total PDAF received had been disbursed as of Dec. 31, 2012, state auditors said.

“The unutilized PDAF was initially discussed with the city administrator but he was not aware of the fund releases to the city,” the COA report said.

State auditors noted that the non-implementation of the identified PPAs out of the PDAF deprived the intended beneficiaries of the project’s outputs or benefits.