P3.68-M Iloilo City Hall properties remain untitled

By: Gerome Dalipe

THE titles of two Iloilo City Government-owned infrastructure projects worth P3.68-million that were built on private properties have yet to be transferred to the city’s name.

The situation puts the ownership of the entire properties in jeopardy, the Commission on Audit said in its 2018 annual audit report.

It also exposes the City Government to a lawsuit in case of a land dispute and could lead to loss of government funds, the auditors noted.

The two properties are the Jaro Health Center in Barangay Balabago and the Mandurriao Health Center.

State auditors urged the City General Services Officer to address the delay in the processing of the required documents for the titling of the properties.

A deed of donation was already entered into between the Balabago Barangay Council and lot owner Jose Danilo Doromal for the Jaro Health Center.

The auditors also asked the City Services Office to follow up with the City Registry of Deeds the issuance to the City Government of a copy of the lot title for the Mandurriao Health Center.

The city accountant assured the auditors that he will not release the payment on the project until it does not have the title or deed of donation to prove showing ownership or authority on the use of the lot by the City Government.

Apart from the two infrastructures, the City’s construction in progress accounts totaling P90.56 million remained unadjusted to its appropriate asset accounts.

Of the above amount, about 57.12 million had been completed or sold, while the P33.44 million worth of projects have no details or schedules, COA said.

The auditors also recommended to the city engineer to coordinate with the City Budget Officer relative to the funding source of the recorded projects with no schedules.

The city engineer was directed to coordinate with the city accountant after project validation or inspection so that the proper adjustments may be made to the project accounts.

The city accountant was also ordered to revisit the transaction with regards to Pavia Housing Project.

The auditors also urged city accountant to reclassify all completed projects in the construction in progress account to the appropriate asset accounts.