Lanao Sur gov on COA probe order: Questioned projects are carried out

Lanao del Sur governor Mamintal Adiong on Sunday said that all the 13 development projects that the Commission on Audit recommended for investigation have already been implemented.

In  statement, Adiong said that all the projects for the province have been implemented based on the memorandum of agreement in 2019 with 21 municipalities.

State auditor COA has ordered an investigation for alleged failure of the provincial government to implement the projects.

In the statement, Adiong said that funding for the implementation of the projects came from the Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) of the provincial LGU, and that the money constituting 50% of the project amount has already been downloaded to the municipal governments concerned.

“Most of the municipal LGUs have accomplished 80 to 100 percent of their respective projects in terms of physical structures. But they have not been declared full implementation because few documentary and evidentiary requirements are still lacking,” Adiong said.

But, he said, the outbreak of the COVID-19 health crisis had forced the municipal governments to focus their attention to crisis management and response efforts during first half of 2020, and even at present.

The COA has given the provincial LGU an unqualified opinion for 2019, which means the presentation of the province's financial report is "FAIR" and has “Fully SATISFIED THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE AUDITOR,” the statement added.

Adiong has ordered the Provincial Engineer’s Office to inspect the status of the 13 projects and ordered to render report within a week's time, the statement added.  —LBG, GMA News