14 DOTr projects na nagkakahalaga ng P1.6 trillion, nasayang dahil sa delays

TINATAYANG 14 foreign-assisted Department of Transportation projects na nagkakahalaga ng P1.6 trillion ang nasayang dahil sa delayed implementation.

Makikita sa annual audit report ng Commission on Audit (COA) para sa DOTr taong 2021, ang mga proyektong ito ay tinamaan ng  mga sumusunod na problema gaya ng “change in project cost, procurement issues,budget and fund flow, design, scope and technical issues, site condition/availability, COVID-19, among other dilemmas.”

Ang mga delay-affected projects naman ay “Maritime Safety Enhancement Project, EDSA Greenways, Cebu Bus Rapid Transit, LRT Line 1 South Extension Project, LRT Line 2 East Extension Project, Maritime Safety Capability Improvement Project Phase 2, Metro Manila Bus Rapid Transit, Metro Manila Subway Project, MRT3 Rehabilitation Project, New Bohol Airport Construction and Sustainable Environment Protection Project, New Cebu International Container Port Project, New Communications, Navigation and Surveillance/Air Traffic Management Systems Development Project, North-South Commuter Railway System at PNR Bicol Railway (South Long Haul) Project.”

“The most common issues encountered by the 14 foreign-assisted projects (FAPs) which caused further delays in the implementation of projects are budget and funds flow, limitations due to COVID-19, and project site condition/availability. Management and/or officers/personnel concerned  have already taken actions to resolve the issues or have prepared/set an action plans/measures to be undertaken to address the said projects ‘ concerns,” ayon sa COA.

“The said issues, which resulted in prolonged/extended project implementation period and change (increase/decrease) in total project costs and scope, ultimately caused the restructuring of the following projects,” dagdag na pahayag nito.

Dahil dito, sinabi ng  audit commission na  12 mula sa  14 na FAPs ay ni-restructured, maliban  sa  New Bohol Airport Construction and Sustainable Environment Protection Project at  New Communications, Navigation and Surveillance/Air Traffic Management Systems Development Project.

“It bears stressing that the issues encountered in the implementation of the projects should be immediately addressed to prevent further extension of services/project’s completion/implementation period and consequently incurrence of additional commitment fees/charges in case of extension of the loan validity period,” giit ng COA.

Sa kabilang dako, inatasan ng COA ang Project Management Offices (PMOs) na regular na magbigay sa National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) Monitoring and Evaluation Staff (MES) at sa  COA Audit Team ng kompletong  quarterly/periodic status reports ng  physical status ng FAP.

Gayundin, ni- require ng COA ang “direct at close monitoring” ng execution ng  action plans na itinakda upang tugunan ang kasalukuyang usapin na kinikilala sa bawat  FAPs upang masiguro ang “smooth and timely implementation” ng  mga proyekto at maiwasan ang  “further delays.”

Idagdag pa rito, inoobliga naman ng state auditors ang PMOs, officials concerned at iba polang  stakeholders na sangkot sa  procurement at implementasyon ng proyekto na i- execute ang hakbang at gawin ang lahat ng makakaya  “for a prompt and timely completion of projects, or if not, minimize delays, and prevent incurrence of additional commitment fees”.

Bilang tugon, sinabi ng  Transportation department  na ipinag-utos na nito sa  Rail PMOs na tiyakin ang  “timely provision of required quarterly/periodic status reports to the NEDA-MES and the COA audit team.”

Samantala, sinabi ng DOTr na lumikha na ito ng  dedicated Monitoring and Evaluation unit para sa  Rail Projects para i- facilitate ang mga nasabing hakbang, “and that incurring commitment fees is not necessarily due to delay in project implementation, since commitment fees are necessarily incurred even for FAPs that are not delayed.” (Daris Jose)