3 projects of past administration placed under special audit
THREE infra projects done during the past Lim administration underwent technical review by the Commission on Audit before full payment can be issued to the contractors.
City Legal Officer Aurora Valle, chair of the Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) of Dagupan City, said the review by an audit team from the regional office as a requirement before payment was sought by Mayor Belen Fernandez.
City Auditor Michelle Ariola, however, is currently on official travel to the United States so the result of the review has not been announced.
Valle spoke during the joint committee hearing conducted by the committees on public works and finance, budget and appropriations of the Sanggunian on the proposed resolution of Councilor Alvin Coquia that Mayor Belen Fernandez should pay contractors who have completed their projects.
The listed contractors that have completed their projects but have not been fully paid are KJRS Construction Enterprises and R.A. Matias Construction and Development Inc.
KJRS has balance due amounting to P863,602.21 for the second and final billing for the construction of a Flood Mitigation Pump at Rizal Galvan Zamora Creek Phase II in Barangay II & III; and another P4,248,963.83 for the first and final phase for the construction of Slope Protection/Gabion at the back of the Pugaro Elementary School.
Meanwhile, R.A. Matias Construction and Development Inc. is collecting P9,994,297.99 for the upgrading of PCC Pavement and Drainage System with Double Barrel Concrete Box Culvert at Rizal Street, Phase III.
Valle told the two SP committees that Mayor Fernandez has adopted due diligence prior to payments because her inspection of the completed projects revealed functional defects, and, therefore, require special audit for these projects by COA was needed.
“We are awaiting the final COA reports,” she said as she attested the documents have been prepared and ready for payment,” Valle attested.
Councilor Coquia set the continuation of the hearing next week. (Leonardo Micua)
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