COA: Palace only spent 0.019% of P14-M budget for gender programs in 2016

Malacañang only spent 0.019 percent of its P14-million allocation for gender and development plans and programs under the 2016 national budget, the Commission on Audit has said.

"Out of 19 GAD programmed activities, only 6 were implemented with a total cost of P532,406.00 or 0.019 percent of the total appropriations of the agency, hence, strengthening GAD mainstream in the operations of OP and information of the public of GAD issues and policies were not fully achieved," state auditors said in the report.

The implemented projects and its corresponding costs were the following:

• dissemination of education/information campaign materials (flyers and posters) worth P30,000;
• hanging of banners worth worth P30,000;
• participation in GAD-related workshops, conferences and forums worth P41,250;
• continuation of the conduct of systematic capability building for members of the OP-GAD Focal Point System, technical working group and secretariat worth P409,956
• coordination with the Philippine Commission on Women on activities for the implementation of National Women's Month worth P59,700
• participation in national seminars and training on gender equality and women empowerment worth P21,500

On the other hand, the bulk of the unimplemented GAD programs came from the participation in local and international conferences/training programs/seminars and the establishment of daycare centers worth P3 million and P2 million, respectively.

Other unimplemented activities include keeping OP personnel informed of GAD policies and issues, gathering of GAD-related articles materials for publication, and the conduct of lectures/forums on domestic violence.

Upon verification with concerned officials, however, state auditors found that the main hindrance for the implementation of the affected GAD activities was the "absence of the proponent due to change in administration and the transition of top management" which took place in 2016.

Section 35 of the General Appropriations Act for Fiscar Year 2016 states that government agencies should include GAD programs in their regular activities which shall be at least five percent of their annual budget.

COA urged OP to abide by the GAD annual plan and budget for the agency to achieve its objective of strengthening public information on GAD issues and policies.

The office of Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea received the audit on June 29, the COA report said. —NB, GMA News