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PAGCOR sheds light on COA findings regarding “Matuwid na Daan sa Silid Aralan” project

August 30, 2021 People's Tonight 440 views

THE Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) would like to shed light on some of the issues raised by the Commission on Audit (COA) in its 2020 Audit Report, specifically with regard to the state-run gaming agency’s school building program.

Said program, dubbed as the “Matuwid na Daan sa Silid-Aralan” was launched in 2011 by the previous administration, in partnership with the Department of Education (DepEd) and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

COA’s 2020 audit findings cited that there was “a) No update on the status of implementation of 398 classrooms with an estimated total project cost of P1.005 billion pending completion and submission of extension of the completion thereof as required under the Memorandum of Agreement b) Fund balances amounting to P1.824 billion remained unliquidated by the implementing agencies despite the lapse of more than three years from the estimated date of completion.”

But in addition to these findings, COA was fair to note that PAGCOR has been “consistent in enjoining its partner agencies’ compliance through demand letters and verbal follow-ups.”

While PAGCOR has been consistently coordinating and sending demand letters to DepEd and DPWH, there has been no reply yet from these agencies regarding the complete liquidation and construction status of the project.

Hence, in February 2021 and in its follow-up letter in June 2021, PAGCOR sought assistance from the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission for further courses of legal actions to take regarding said findings.

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