KAWIT, Cavite — The Commission on Audit (COA) has exposed the failure of the local government unit (LGU) of Kawit, Cavite, under the administration of Mayor Angelo Aguinaldo, to comply with procurement transparency requirements for projects funded under the 20% Development Fund in 2018.

In its annual audit report, COA noted that the LGU did not post crucial procurement documents such as the Notice of Award (NOA), Notice to Proceed (NTP), and contract details in the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS) or in conspicuous places within the municipal premises, as mandated by Republic Act No. 9184, also known as the Government Procurement Reform Act.

COA cited violations of Sections 37.1.6 and 37.4.2 of the law’s Implementing Rules and Regulations, which require the posting of procurement notices within specific timeframes to ensure transparency and accountability.

According to the report, the Bid and Awards Committee (BAC) and its secretariat failed to meet the deadlines for posting, raising red flags about the transparency of the procurement process.

Audit verification further revealed that disbursement vouchers lacked proof of compliance with the posting requirements for multiple projects, including the improvement of parking areas, construction of covered canals, and procurement of floodlights.

Among the flagged projects were:
Improvement of Court Surface (Tennis Court): Awarded on June 1, 2018, with no evidence of PhilGEPS posting.
Rehabilitation of Liwasang Aguinaldo: Contracted on September 3, 2018, without requisite notices displayed.
Fabrication of Municipal Trash Containers: Finalized in October 2018, also without proper postings.

COA said that such lapses undermine public trust and accountability in the procurement process.

The report stressed the importance of strict adherence to transparency measures to ensure that government funds are spent efficiently and in compliance with the law.

BAC’s failure to post notices as required “defeats the purpose of promoting transparency and accountability in public procurement,” the COA report said.

As of press time, the Kawit LGU has yet to issue a statement addressing the COA findings.