A Commission on Audit (COA) report has uncovered delays in the implementation of a subproject under the Investment in Rural Enterprises and Agriculture and Fisheries Productivity (I-REAP) program in Bohol province, potentially impacting intended beneficiaries.
The audit found that one subproject costing P800,000 pesos remained uncompleted.
This delay extended beyond the target completion date, affecting the delivery of benefits to intended recipients.
The I-REAP program, a component of the Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP), aims to support rural enterprises and boost agricultural productivity.
Funded by a 60:20:20 loan scheme involving the national government, local government units, and proponent groups, the program seeks to enhance income-generating activities and promote sustainable development in rural areas.
According to the COA report, out of 16 approved I-REAP subprojects in Bohol with a total cost of P48,644,319 pesos, 15 were successfully completed.
However, the lone delayed subproject, identified as the “Coco Based Processing and Marketing Enterprise” in Loon, Bohol, faced significant setbacks.
The audit revealed that the subproject, which began in October 2017, had accumulated 1,917 days of delay.
Despite achieving 85% physical progress, the project encountered obstacles in its final stages, including delays in joint inspection review and procurement of necessary items.
COA auditors noted that these delays “deprived the intended users of the benefits to be derived from the full implementation of the subprojects.”
In response, they recommended that management, through the Provincial Project Management Implementation Unit (PPMIU) I-REAP, provide guidance to the proponent group to address the identified causes of delay.
The provincial government, in its management comment, explained that during a site inspection involving the Regional Project Monitoring Team and the National Economic and Development Authority, the proponent group was reminded of the deadline for completing procurement activities.
The proponent group, assisted by PPMIU-Bohol and the Regional Project Coordination Office, procured the remaining items based on the approved procurement plan.
Bohol Capitol claimed that the Monitoring and Information System of the Department of Agriculture-PRDP was updated to show the subproject as completed.