CoA flags Batangas over ‘unspent’ disaster funds

The Commission on Audit (CoA) has flagged the provincial government of Batangas for unspent disaster funds and unsettled disallowances in 2023.

A CoA annual audit report showed Batangas failed to utilize P283.23 million in disaster funds, representing a 45.85% non-utilization rate.

The audit body disclosed that the unspent funds hindered the province's disaster preparedness and response capabilities, and prevented the strengthening of community resilience.

"The failure to utilize the said fund for disaster-related programs, projects, and activities incorporated in the Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund (LDRRMF) Investment Plan defeated the objective of strengthening the resiliency of communities," the CoA said in the report.

Additionally, it cited P54.59 million in unresolved disallowances, stemming from procurement issues and unvalidated expenses. The agency also cited that the province failed to implement 15 of 32 audit recommendations from 2022 and prior years.

The findings come as the Philippine Statistics Authority reported an increase in poverty in Batangas. The number of poor families grew by 7,200, from 32,300 in 2021 to 39,500 in 2023. The poverty incidence rate also rose from 4.3 percent in 2021 to 4.9 percent in 2023.