The Commission on Audit (COA) has flagged the provincial government of Pampanga for its failure to “put to good use” the construction materials donated when a 6.1 magnitude earthquake hit the province in 2019.
In its audit report, COA also tagged Pampanga for its "inadequate controls over property management" and "deficiencies in the conduct of inventory-taking," which resulted in construction materials not being used. Most of the materials were donated in 2019, it said.
It said the audit team discovered the stored donated materials during an ocular inspection at a compound at Sindalan in San Fernando City on July 7, 2022.
It said the materials were donated by Ayala Corporation when a magnitude 6.1 magnitude earthquake hit the province in April 2019. The construction materials were intended for the construction and rehabilitation of several Aeta houses affected by the earthquake, COA said.
"However, three years have passed and the donated materials remained unutilized," it lamented.
"These properties were either stored at the garage, stock room, under hospital beds, or unused corridors,” it said.
It stressed that donated properties should serve their intended purpose, and the receiving units have a responsibility to maximize these.