SPDA in hot water for listing 10 gov’t properties at P1 each

The Southern Philippines Development Authority (SPDA) is in hot water anew for listing 10 parcels of land in its book of accounts for P1 each per property.

This was based on the 2017 annual audit report of CoA wherein it stated the same properties were also flagged in its previous reports for 2012 and 2014 but the SPDA management has yet to take action on its appraisal.

State auditors said they found that nothing has been made by the management to correct the deficiency upon inquiry with the property officer in-charge.

The properties in question involved some 24,145.9407 hectares and were acquired either through a deed of donation or were turned over by the defunct Mindanao Development Authority.

Auditors noted that the biggest parcel of land is the 24,000-hectare property in Wao and Bumbaran, Lanao del Sur that was acquired in 1981 and is now occupied by informal settlers.

Likewise, a 112-hectare fishpond project in Panigayan, Basilan and a 13.7915-hectare lot in Bagumbayan, Sultan Kudarat were also listed in the books of SPDA which were acquired in 1975 and 1982, respectively.

The CoA report also included properties located in Butuan City, Cotabato City, Davao City, Zamboanga City and in the towns of Pikit and Libungan in Cotabato province.

Aside from the said parcels of land, there are seven properties that have no tax declarations while two other lots have land titles.

The SPDA though has informed CoA that it has yet to appraise the properties to assess their real property values.

The CoA said in its report that though the management admitted the need to appraise the value of the said properties as basis in recording for fair presentation in the financial statements, action has yet to be made to appraise it.

The failure of the management to appraise the said lots at their fair value is a violation of the Philippine Accounting Standard 16 and understated the land account in the financial statements.

The SPDA was told by the auditors to prepare the necessary documents for the appraisal and titling of the lands to determine their real values and pinpoint the ownership.

The SPDA was created by Presidential Decree No. 690 during the Marcos regime to engage in various development projects in conflict-affected areas and communities.

In 2006, then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo reactivated the agency through an executive order to pursue development efforts in Mindanao following the 1996 peace pact between the government and the Moro National Liberation Front.