COA flags P20-B irrigation agency contracts awarded to ‘ineligible contractors’

The Commission on Audit (COA) flagged at least 339 contracts awarded by the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) totaling P19.986 billion in 2019 for violating procurement laws.

State auditors said offices under NIA awarded contracts to “ineligible contractors” who failed to provide documentary requirements, violated procurement timelines, went through inadequate procedures in the post-qualification evaluation, or did not comply with “issuance of bid and performance security.”

These contracts were awarded by NIA-Central Office, NIA-Cordillera Administrative Region, the Agno River Irrigation System Extension Project, the Lower Agno River Irrigation System Improvement Project, the Upper Pampanga River Integrated Irrigation System, and 4 regional offices.

In awarding these contracts, COA said, NIA violated the 2016 Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations of the Government Procurement Reform Act, together with the manual of procedures of the Government Procurement Policy Board.

Responding to the audit, NIA said the delay in submission of documents was caused by “reshuffling of personnel.”

This is not the first time such issues were found. According to COA, state auditors already called out NIA for similar violations in the past and yet it has not implemented necessary steps to address the problems.

“It bears to emphasize that compared to [2018’s] report of 106 contracts, the reported 339 contracts [in 2019] increased by 219.81%,” COA said.

The commission reminded NIA to improve transparency and ensure that the bidding process follows the law. – Rappler.com