Residents ‘Not Deprived’: Bantayan officials clarify COA report

CEBU, Philippines —  Town officials of Bantayan, Cebu have assured that their constituents have not been deprived of services amid a Commission on Audit report that found out that nearly P50 million worth of funds were not used in 2017.

While there were unimplemented projects last year, Mayor Ian Christopher Escario, in a press conference yesterday, clarified that such projects belonged to the administration of former mayor Art Despi.

Escario became mayor in May 2017 after the Comelec en banc proclaimed him as the winner in the 2016 elections.

Based on the documents presented by Escario’s camp, no projects were implemented from January to July 2017.

Escario said that Despi was still holding office during that time. When Escario became mayor starting May, he said he then slowly implemented the projects covered under the town's development fund.

Among the projects implemented were the construction of a motor pool office at the municipal hall's compound worth around P4 million; construction of market stalls, P705,000; rehabilitation and expansion, P134, 875.

Also included were the construction of drainage systems in Barangay Ticad worth P2.8 million and the construction of four school buildings at the Cebu Technological University-Bantayan Campus, which is worth P4 million.

In all, the projects undertaken from January to December last year cost P26 million.

State auditors had reported that almost P50 million worth of funds were not used for “priority projects” of the town and because of this, residents were possibly “deprived” of their benefits.

But this was denied by Ewaniza Abello, the municipal accountant.

“There’s no deprivation of benefits on the constituents of Bantayan. The COA report was based on payment or utilization. Utilization is different from implementation,” Abello said.

Escario, on the other hand, reiterated that the projects were implemented; in fact, some are already complete. But these were not yet paid by the town as they are still waiting for contractors to serve their billings.

He added that they did not release the funds as the contractors need to submit documents for the billing statement so the town will not be questioned about the matter. — JMD (FREEMAN)