MANILA – Walang katiwalian sa Department of Agriculture (DA), at ang ahensya ay magbibigay ng isang pinagsamang tugon sa natuklasan ng Commission on Audit (COA) ng mga hinihinalang kakulangan sa accounting.
Inilahad ng DA na nangangalap na sila ng mga ulat mula sa mga tanggapan at operating unit mula pa noong Hulyo upang maihanda ang 2020 Audit Report.
“We received the COA report on July 2, 2021. Therefore, we still have until September 2, 2021 to satisfy the COA’s observations through our categorical replies as per Department of Agriculture Undersecretary for Administration and Finance Roldan Gorgonio,” sinabi ni Secretary William Dar sa isang pahayag noong Huwebes.
“We assure our clientele — farmers, fishers, livestock raisers, and agri-fishery industry stakeholders — and partners from the private sector, local government units, and international funding institutions, and the general public that we, at the OneDA Family, do not and will not tolerate corruption, as we try to comply with all government accounting and auditing procedures and requirements, and continuously pursue aboveboard our planned programs and initiatives to increase the productivity and incomes of farmers and fisherfolk, and attain a food-secure and resilient Philippines,” saad ni Dar.
Sa ulat ng COA tungkol sa pagpapatakbo ng DA at mga pinansiyal na highlight sa 2020, ang PHP34.45 bilyon na pondo ay kulang sa accounting record at nagkaroon ng “mga error o pagkukulang sa accounting”.
“A qualified opinion was rendered on the [DA’s] financial statements due to various accounting errors/omissions amounting to PHP2,087.408 million, which exceeded the materiality level of PHP360.581 million, and accounting deficiencies such as the absence of subsidiary ledgers and lack of complete accounting records on 379 accounts with an aggregate amount of PHP32,362.002 million which prevented alternative audit procedures to be undertaken to obtain sufficient and appropriate evidence relating to various assertions on the accounts,” ayon sa ulat.
Napansin din ng COA ang halagang PHP4.5 bilyong unobligated fund mula sa halagang PHP60.80 bilyon ng ahensya.
Ipinakita ng komisyon na PHP56.2 bilyon lamang, o 92.51 porsyento ng allotment, ang ginamit.
Gayunpaman, sinabi sa ulat na ang procurement process ang naging sanhi ng pagkaantala at pagkansela ng mga programa na inilaan sa pagtugon ng Covid-19 outbreak.
