Work slippage on town’s bldgs ‘unnecessary’

By: Gerome Dalipe

THE constructions of several multi-purpose buildings for the various barangays in Pavia town, Iloilo have been delayed for several months last year.

This, after the municipal government failed to secure the required documents to start the construction of the buildings, particularly on the proposed lot in Barangay Ungka II.

In its 2018 annual report, the Commission on Audit (COA) said the work slippage resulted in “unnecessary delays” in the completion of the project and at risk of contract termination by the contractor.

Such practice violated Sec. 17.6 of the revised implementing rules and regulations of Republic Act 9184, otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Reform Act.

Apart from multi-purpose buildings, the construction works on phase 7 of the town’s two-story public market was suspended for 531 days.

Such was caused by the town’s failure to enforce detailed site investigation for the project and to properly plan its implementation with other on-going projects in the same location.

The auditors urged the mayor to instruct the bids and awards committee and remind them to first comply with the required documents for the proposed location of the projects before awarding the contract.

Likewise, the auditors asked the municipal mayor to coordinate with the recipient barangays to hasten the possession of the required documents.

The municipal engineer is also tasked to ensure that a detailed site inspection is conducted prior to the implementation of the projects.

This is to avoid suspension of construction works for a significant time and to enable the timely delivery of service to the public.

Apart from the slow construction of buildings, COA also scored the Pavia municipal government for continuing the construction of the Pavia Public Market by the Pavia Entrepreneurs Multi-Purpose Cooperative for lack of a valid memorandum of agreement.

“Income that should accrue to the municipality has not been recognized which could have been used to finance priority programs and projects,” read COA report.

The auditors instructed the mayor to direct the municipal treasurer to take over the operations of the Pavia Public Market.

Likewise, the monthly collections from stall rentals and other market fees made by the cooperatives from Oct. 16, 2017, up to the present should be verified by the town treasurer for proper remittance of taxes to the town’s coffers.