Commission on Audit to conduct pre-audit of big-ticket projects

By Reinir Padua

MANILA, Philippines – Instead of just exposing irregularities in expenditures already made by government agencies, the Commission on Audit (COA) will soon include in its functions the pre-audit of big-ticket projects to spot possible corruption before it is committed.

“We have just approved a resolution on (reinstating) the pre-audit (function of the COA),” chairperson Reynaldo Villar revealed at a recent symposium on government accountability marking the 110th anniversary of the commission.

Villar did not discuss the specifics of the resolution but said it would be published soon in the commission’s official gazette.

However, a source from the COA told The STAR that the commission intends to start implementing the pre-audit within the year.

The source said the commission was still setting up the guidelines but the pre-audit would initially be on big-ticket government projects.

The commission found an ally in Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, who said “we should restore what COA used to do.”

“Before, the COA was consulted in every government project,” said Enrile, who was the keynote speaker during the symposium.

“At least it can be seen right in the beginning if the project will be overpriced or substandard. It’s difficult going after (the crooks) if the money is already spent,” Enrile added.

It was during the Marcos regime in 1985 when the gradual removal of the pre-audit functions of the commission started.

Enrile pointed out that among the reasons raised for the lifting of the pre-audit was the delay in important government projects then pre-screened by the COA.

“But I think the losses incurred in the delay of the projects because of the pre-audit are little compared to the money lost due to corruption,” the Senate president said.

In a related development, Enrile said he was in full support of the pending bill at the Senate “seeking to strengthen and upgrade the capabilities of the COA as a key anti-corruption institution.”

“For as long as I am the Senate President, I assure you that this will pass,” Enrile said.

source

Selective pre-audit of government transactions will start on August 1, 2009 per coa circular no. 2009-004.