Nabcor execs, ‘NGOs’ told to refund P1.45B

Rappler.com

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The latest audit report, covering 2007-2011, shows the government corporation that got bulk of PDAF releases ignored COA recommendations to avoid further misuse of the pork barrel

MANILA, Philippines – The Commission on Audit (COA) is asking officials of a government corporation and the dubious non-governmental organizations (NGOs) it accredited to return to government billions in lawmakers’ pork barrel that had been misused over 5 years.

The National Agri-Business Corporation (Nabcor), which is attached to the agriculture department, ignored COA recommendations and notices of disallowances, and failed to justify its choice of NGOs to which it released around P1.45 billion from 2007 to 2011.

The latest COA report, released on September 25, confirmed Rappler reports, where Nabcor’s dealings with questionable NGOs involving lawmakers’ Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) shows most clearly how the pork barrel scam works.

READ: Admin solons linked to pork barrel scam

READ: Almost half of PDAF goes to favored NGOs

READ: Collusion? Solons pick NGOs that get PDAF

Another COA special report, covering only 2007-2009, identified Nabcor as the government corporation to have released the most amount of misused pork barrel during President Arroyo’s time.

Its former president Alan Javellana testified before the Senate on September 5 that his agency funded NGOs without vetting them. The justice department has since included him among 38 charged with plunder or malversation before the Ombudsman in relation to the PDAF scam.

According to COA’s latest report, 19 of its recommendations to avoid further misuse of the pork barrel were “not implemented” by Nabcor. This prompted the state auditing agency to order officials or the GOCC and the subject NGOs to return to government all questioned fund releases.

Covered by the initial Notices of Disallowance are P470.32 million worth of transactions. Another P866.94 million is still undergoing evaluation.

“The Audit Team has already suspended the PDAF transactions. However, (Nabcor) management was not able to comply with the requirements stated in the notices of suspensions; thus, the transactions would be disallowed in audit,” COA said.

Nabcor received the following amounts of PDAF: 

  • P151.5 million in 2007
  • P853.47 million in 2008
  • P413.135 million in 2009 and 2010
  • P32.15 million in 2011.

The government corporation was not able to explain why it released funds to NGOs that were:

  • not accredited by government
  • unable to submit lists of previousl projects to prove their track record
  • unable to submit financial statements for at least 3 years to establish their legitimacy.

COA found that in livelihood projects funded by PDAF coursed through Nabcor, there was no public bidding in the purchase of supplies and equipment, and supposed farmer beneficiaries denied receiving livelihood kits.

The NGOs that got funds from Nabcor had incomplete details of transactions on purchase orders. They did not submit supporting papers, like delivery receipts, inspection and acceptance reports ,and acknowledgment reports signed by beneficiaries.

The NGOs that got funds from Nabcor over the years were:

2007

  • Buhay Mo Mahal Ko Foundation Inc
  • Kapuso’t Kapamilya Foundation Inc
  • Ikaw at Ako Foundation Inc
  • Kabuhayan at Kalusugang Alay sa Masa Foundation

2008

  • Gabay at Pag-asa ng Masa Foundation Inc
  • Kasangga sa Magandang Bukas Foundation Inc
  • Kabuhayan at Kalusugang Alay sa Masa Foundation
  • Gabay sa Magandang Bukas Foundation Inc
  • Kapuso’t Kapamilya Foundation Inc
  • Aaron Foundation Philippines Inc
  • Bukid-Tanglaw Livelihood Foundation Inc
  • Social Development Program for Farmers Foundation Inc
  • Kaagapay Magpakailanman Foundation Inc
  • Interactive Training Opportunity on Needs Alleviations (Ito Na!) Movement Inc
  • Uswag Guimaras Foundation Inc
  • Masaganang Ani para sa Magsasaka Foundation Inc
  • People’s Organization for Progress and Development Foundation Inc
  • Gabay-Masa Development Foundation Inc
  • Infinite Community Integrated Development Support Foundation Inc

2009 and 2010

  • Kagandahang Kapaligiran Foundation Inc
  • Kabuhayan at Kalusugan Alay sa Masa Foundation
  • Social Development Program for Farmers Foundation Inc
  • Kaisa’t Kaagapay Mo Foundation Inc
  • Infinite Community Integrated Development Support Foundation Inc
  • Uswag Pilipinas Foundation Inc
  • Center for Mindoro Integrated Development Foundation
  • Masaganang Ani Para sa Magsasaka Foundation Inc
  • St. James the Apostle Multi-Purpose Cooperative
  • Pangkabuhayan Foundation Inc
  • The Likhaan Group Inc
  • Kaagapay Magpakailanman Foundation Inc
  • Kapuso’t Kapamilya Foundation Inc
  • Interactive Training Opportunity on Needs Alleviations (Ito Na!) Foundation Inc

2011

  • Sagip-Buhay People Support Foundation Inc

COA said the NGOs and their officers are no longer located in the addresses given in documents provided by Nabcor. – Rappler.com

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