Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 5) — Several offices under the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) have recorded unused funds worth more than ₱245 million that could have helped more workers in need of assistance, the Commission on Audit (COA) said.
In its audit report for the department, COA noted that of the over ₱1.5-billion budget for DOLE’s Integrated Livelihood Program (DILP) or Kabuhayan Program, which grants assistance to allow its beneficiaries to run their own business and re-establish livelihoods damaged by calamities, only over ₱1.19 billion or around 78% was utilized.
Of the ₱329 million unused funds, the COA said, more than ₱245 million were from the National Capital Region and offices in the regions of Ilocos, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Bicol, Western Visayas, and Eastern Visayas.
State auditors said the amount “could have helped more working poor, vulnerable, and marginalized workers had the respective offices maximized their allocations.”
The eligible beneficiaries covered by the DILP include the self-employed with insufficient income, marginalized and landless farmers, marginalized fisherfolk, unpaid family workers, women and youth, low/minimum wage earners and seasonal workers, persons with disability, senior citizens, and indigenous people.
Budget for the project could have been used to fund small enterprises, or starter kits for individual beneficiaries.
