COA says DPWH had P1.9-B 'uncompleted' infrastructure projects in 2024
The Commission on Audit (COA) has raised concern over the more than P1.95 billion infrastructure projects that were declared as "100 percent complete" by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) but were found ‘uncompleted’ in 2024.
In its 2024 annual audit report, the COA said there were several projects in the Report on Publicized Government Programs, Projects and Activities and Project and Contract Management Application (PCMA) that were falsely declared as completed, but were found uncompleted within the contract period because of defects and deficiencies that required repair.
A total of 44 projects were identified by COA in its report.
The COA said that in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), there were 18 projects of the Lower Kalinga District Engineering Office (DEO) and four from Apayao 1st DEO worth P831,818,790.18 and P271,196,305, respectively.
There were nine from Region IV-B -- four from Mindoro Oriental DEO worth P64,001,204.06 and five from Southern Mindoro DEO worth P9,223,318.85, it said.
In Region VI, it added that there were two projects by the Iloilo 4th DEO with amounts of P29,699,965.44 and P9,404,819.21.
There were 11 projects identified in Region 10 -- eight projects amounting to P532,075,000 by the Cagayan de Oro City 1st DEO and P208,619,703.33 by Cagayan de Oro City 2nd DEO.
"It was also noted that contractors for 48 projects with a total cost of P2,186,293,417.14 have been paid with final progress billings and released for retention, but these projects are not fully completed due to unfinished works and deficiencies," the COA pointed out.
Thus, the COA advised the DPWH District Quality Assurance Units, Inspectorate Teams, and Engineers to refrain from certifying projects as "100 percent complete" or "free from defects," and refrain from reporting inaccurate accomplishments in the Statement of Work Accomplished (SWA) when deficiencies and unimplemented items are still present.
It also asked the DPWH to impose liquidated damages, when applicable, on delayed or deficient projects -- particularly for Zambales 1st and 2nd DEOs and in Region VI.
At the same time, the COA said that contractors should be made to rectify or complete noted deficiencies and deliver contractual requirements, otherwise, their performance securities should be forfeited and they should be blacklisted.