By Eddie O. Barrita
CEBU CITY, July 19 (PNA) — The Commission on Audit (COA) has uncovered some PHP90.34 million in unspent Priority Development Assistance Funds (PDAF) of legislators and the budget of some national government agencies at the cebu Capitol from 2005 to 2014.
The amount was for some 64 projects which have yet to be implemented by the Cebu provincial government as of the end of 2014.
These projects included PhilHealth contributions, rehabilitation of seaweed and aqua farms and repair of medical facilities.
Of the total funding, PHP83 million came from pork barrel funds of four Cebu congressmen, eight senators and a party-list group.
Among the Cebu congressmen, then second district congressman Pablo Garcia had the highest funding allocation of PHP205 million for projects in 2012.
Only PHP155.9 million or 76 percent of Garcia’s PDAF was used.
The COA report said the unutilized PDAF totaling PHP83 million received in 2009 to 2013, which remained unobligated up to 2014, should be returned to the National Treasury after the Supreme Court declared PDAF unconstitutional in a Nov. 19, 2013 decision.
It recommended that provincial government implement the projects as required in the memorandum of agreement or special allotment advice to achieve the purpose of the funds to benefit the constituents. (PNA)