Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 11) – The Commission on Audit (COA) flagged the Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA) over unreleased funds for programs dedicated to the rehabilitation of areas affected by Super Typhoon Yolanda and the Zamboanga City siege in 2013, and the Marawi City siege in 2017.
“We reiterated our prior year’s recommendation that LWUA Management expedite and fast track the release of unutilized DRRM (Disaster Risk Reduction and Management) funds to the intended beneficiaries and prioritize the DRRM projects in accordance with the pertinent provisions of the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010 to lessen the impact of the disaster and restore the normal supply of potable water,” state auditors said in its 2021 annual audit report released on July 2.
State auditors first noted LWUA’s funds in the Yolanda Recovery and Rehabilitation Program (YRRP), where around ₱11.217 million have yet to be disbursed to affected water districts out of the total ₱75.953 million allocated money for the agency.
COA added LWUA failed to utilize ₱68.464 million out of the over ₱660 million funds allocated for the Yolanda program for the National Housing Authority.
“The long delay of seven years in the implementation of the YRRP projects deprived the beneficiaries of the much needed assistance thus, not consistent with the policy of the State to lessen the impact of calamity and help the communities affected by the typhoon to rebuild and go back to their normal lives,” the COA stated in its report.
In LWUA’s programs for the rehabilitation of Marawi City, state auditors found that the agency had unreleased funds amounting to ₱143.317 million from the total ₱181.385 million intended to improve the war-torn city’s water supply and sewerage system.
“(LWUA) Management informed that the delays in the implementation of the project were due to failed biddings, project site issues, and lack of signatories,” the report said.
The state auditing body also disclosed that ₱441.309 million earmarked for the water and sanitation systems project under the Zamboanga City Roadmap to Recovery and Reconstruction (Z3R) Program have yet to be utilized by LWUA.
The Zamboanga City Water District only received ₱85.766 million from the total ₱527.075 million allocated for the Z3R program.
“Delays in the implementation and execution of the project for the Z3R Program defeat the purpose of the DRRM fund to provide immediate response to the needs of the intended beneficiaries to restore the normal supply of potable water and prevent disruption in cases of conflict and disasters,” state auditors said.
LWUA has yet to release a statement about COA’s report.
