COA flags for closer monitoring two OWWA livelihood programs for returning OFWs
Published Aug 12, 2019 09:19 pm
By Ben Rosario
The Commission on Audit has flagged two livelihood programs for overseas Filipino workers (OFW) with over P700 million in total government funding, saying that their implementation should be closely monitored.
Commission on Audit (MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO)
Audit findings contained in the 2018 Annual Audit Report for the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration indicated that the implementation of the Balik-Pinas, Balik Hanapbuhay (BPBH) Program has not been closely monitored by OWWA Regional Welfare Office as provided under Memorandum of Instructions No. 005, Series of 2017.
The government released some P632.89 million for the implementation of the program.
“Further, releases to beneficiaries in RWO NO. 1 totaling P5,860,000.00 were not supported with the required documentation prescribed under Section 4 of the said MOI, contrary to Section 4 (6) of PD No. 1445, rendering the validity of the releases doubtful,” COA stated.
The government released P632.89 million for the implementation of BPBH in 2018 that provides livelihood support and assistance to returning OFWs.
Aside from receiving maximum P20, 000 cash assistance as start-up capital for livelihood projects, beneficiaries also undergo entrepreneurship development training.
ON the other hand, COA also called the attention of the OWWA management for failing to fully utilize the P88.45 million funds released by OWWA-Central Office to the 17th RWOs for implementation of the program.
State auditors noted that only P27.88 million or 31.53 percent was “utilized due to time constraints, lack of manpower and inability of the OFW applicants to comply with the requirements”.
The audit agency said the slow utilization of fund affected the welfare of OFW beneficiaries.
The Tulong PUSO is a project of the Department of Labor and Employment funded under the DOLE Integrated Livelihood and Emergency Employment Program budget.
Audit examiners noted that the failure to fully utilize the budget could also be traced to the inability of beneficiaries to comply with difficult requirements under the program.
“We recommended that Management inform the DOLE CO of the problems/issues encountered in the implementation of the Tulong Puso Program funded by the latter and require the Directors of the RWOs to cause the settlement/refund of the unutilized funds to OWWA/CO, for the subsequent refund to the DOLE-CO,” said COA.
Reacting to the audit report, OWWA vowed to return to DOLE the remaining P55 million unutilized funds.
Commission on Audit (MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO)
Audit findings contained in the 2018 Annual Audit Report for the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration indicated that the implementation of the Balik-Pinas, Balik Hanapbuhay (BPBH) Program has not been closely monitored by OWWA Regional Welfare Office as provided under Memorandum of Instructions No. 005, Series of 2017.
The government released some P632.89 million for the implementation of the program.
“Further, releases to beneficiaries in RWO NO. 1 totaling P5,860,000.00 were not supported with the required documentation prescribed under Section 4 of the said MOI, contrary to Section 4 (6) of PD No. 1445, rendering the validity of the releases doubtful,” COA stated.
The government released P632.89 million for the implementation of BPBH in 2018 that provides livelihood support and assistance to returning OFWs.
Aside from receiving maximum P20, 000 cash assistance as start-up capital for livelihood projects, beneficiaries also undergo entrepreneurship development training.
ON the other hand, COA also called the attention of the OWWA management for failing to fully utilize the P88.45 million funds released by OWWA-Central Office to the 17th RWOs for implementation of the program.
State auditors noted that only P27.88 million or 31.53 percent was “utilized due to time constraints, lack of manpower and inability of the OFW applicants to comply with the requirements”.
The audit agency said the slow utilization of fund affected the welfare of OFW beneficiaries.
The Tulong PUSO is a project of the Department of Labor and Employment funded under the DOLE Integrated Livelihood and Emergency Employment Program budget.
Audit examiners noted that the failure to fully utilize the budget could also be traced to the inability of beneficiaries to comply with difficult requirements under the program.
“We recommended that Management inform the DOLE CO of the problems/issues encountered in the implementation of the Tulong Puso Program funded by the latter and require the Directors of the RWOs to cause the settlement/refund of the unutilized funds to OWWA/CO, for the subsequent refund to the DOLE-CO,” said COA.
Reacting to the audit report, OWWA vowed to return to DOLE the remaining P55 million unutilized funds.