COA orders fraud audit on Bulacan flood control projects

The Commission on Audit (COA) has ordered a fraud audit of the flood control projects in the Bulacan province, which was hit by the recent floods, in a bid to seek accountability for failed projects across the country.

Under a memorandum ordered by COA chairperson Gamaliel Cordoba, all supervising auditors and audit team leaders of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) District Offices in Region 3 are mandated to submit all relevant documents necessary for the fraud audit.

They are also ordered to ensure their availability to assist the fraud audit teams at any time during the audit.

“Given the critical issues raised by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. regarding the implementation of these projects, particularly in the Province in Bulacan, a fraud audit is an immediate and unequivocal necessity,” COA said in a memo issued on August 12.

The order covers flood control projects of the Department of Public Works and HIghways (DPWH) in the province, which received P44 billion for flood control projects, accounting for the biggest share of funding in Region 3 with 45%.

According to Cordoba, the audit is in line with President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s move to investigate alleged anomalies in the government’s flood control programs amid persistent flooding across the country.

This comes as Marcos during his State of the Nation Address (SONA) last July, warned government personnel who steal public funds — such as those for flood control projects — to have some shame.

Just last week the President launched the website on flood control projects. He said 20% of the P545-billion budget for flood control projects was awarded to only 15% of contractors, five of whom have contracts across the country.  

He is also seeking explanation from St. Timothy Construction Corp. regarding its supposed failed flood control project in Calumpit Bulacan, which was hit by floods, with residents of several barangays forced to wade through floodwater for at least two weeks. — Jon Viktor Cabuenas/RF, GMA Integrated News