How did TESDA utilize P7 billion in 89 days, solon puzzled

In 2020, the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) utilized P10 billion of its P11.9 billion for the entire year or for 365 days.

In 2021, from June 30 to September 14, or for 76 days, it was able to obligate P3 billion of its annual budget, and from September 10 to September 23 or for 13 days, the agency used P4 billion.

Marikina Representative Stella Quimbo said she is puzzled at how the country’s prime agency tasked to manage technical-vocational trainings can do this.

“In a matter of 89 days, P7 billion ang na-obligate ng TESDA?  Sabi ko, kataka-taka, parang himala,” she said in her interpellation Monday night during the House of Representatives plenary deliberation of the agency’s proposed P13.64-billion budget.

Quimbo explained that obligated funds are those that have been awarded to the winning bidder, or downloaded to the authorized party.

“Ibig sabihin, hindi mo na pwedeng gamitin sa ibang paraan,” she added.

Zamboanga del Norte Rep. Romeo Jalosjos Jr., sponsor of the TESDA budget, agreed with Quimbo’s description of obligated funds and added that TESDA requires fulfillment of the qualification map and other processes before the funds are released to the beneficiaries, which he said takes a minimum of 14 days.

“Iyong isang cycle takes 14 days, so ‘yung P4 billion in 13 days ay talagang impossible,” Quimbo retorted.

Jalosjos explained that the documents submitted to the House for the budget deliberation contained funds that were not yet obligated.  On Quimbo’s request, Jalosjos said TESDA will submit a report on September 28 of all obligated and disbursed funds as of September 24.

“Our processes in this budget hearing is sacred as we are talking about people’s money.  Sa DOH (Department of Health), kulang na kulang, walang pambayad sa medical frontliners …kaya sinisikap natin na maging very thorough, kaya ‘pag nagsabi kayo ng impormasyon, inaasahan namin na totoo,” Quimbo said.

Deliberations on TESDA’s budget was deferred anew.

One of the attached agencies of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), TESDA will get P13.64 billion under the proposed 2022 appropriations, representing 58 percent of the budget of the entire department.

State auditors earlier flagged TESDA over its “highly questionable” transfer of P160 million from the central office to regional offices for the rollout of the government’s anti-communist programs.

In its 2020 audit report, the Commission on Audit (COA) raised the alarm over the channeling of a total of P160,083,401 to implement the programs under the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC), which was created under Executive Order No. 70.

In response, the TESDA management said that P146 million was taken out of the TESDA Scholarship Fund for distribution to regional offices subject to TESDA scholarship rules and regulations.—LDF, GMA News