KAWIT, Cavite — A scathing report from the Commission on Audit (COA) reveals that the Municipality of Kawit under the administration of Mayor Angelo Aguinaldo failed to implement four development projects worth P5.8 million in 2019, raising concerns about the local government’s ability to manage funds and deliver on promised improvements.

The projects, funded through the municipality’s 20 percent Development Fund (DF), were intended to boost socio-economic development and environmental outcomes in the area.

However, COA found that none of the four initiatives materialized during the year, leaving allocated funds unused and community needs unmet.

According to the report, the municipality had appropriated a total of P34,728,025.40 for development projects in 2019.

Twenty-one projects were initially identified and included in the Annual Investment Plan. Of these, four remained unimplemented:

1. Purchase of Land and Land Development for Informal Settler Families (ISF) and Government Facilities (P3,000,000)
2. Construction of Boat Ducking Bay (P600,000)
3. Fabrication of three units of Waiting Shed (P1,200,000)
4. Dredging and Desilting of Rivers (P1,000,000)

The COA’s inquiry with the Municipal Engineer revealed a litany of issues behind the project failures. The land purchase did not materialize due to complications with the seller’s title. The boat ducking bay project stalled because the municipality failed to secure permission from the National Historical Institute, as the proposed location was adjacent to the Aguinaldo Shrine.

Furthermore, no specific locations were identified for the waiting sheds, while the dredging and desilting of rivers did not proceed for undisclosed reasons.

The audit report cites “lack of proper coordination with other government agencies” as a key factor in the non-implementation of these projects.

This breakdown in inter-agency communication resulted in the failure to meet desired socio-economic development and environmental goals.

The MPDO and Municipal Engineer, in their official comment, acknowledged the lack of concrete details and proper documentation for some projects under Angelo Aguinaldo administration.