Gov't agencies in E. Visayas urged to fast track 2018 projects

TACLOBAN CITY, Jan 11  -- The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has called on national government agencies in Eastern Visayas to start the implementation of projects early this year in a bid to raise absorptive capacity.

Concerned on reports of low fund utilization rate of some government field offices in the region, DBM Regional Director Imelda Laceras said heads of offices should closely monitor projects early and not just wait until the last quarter of the year to double their effort.

“Late last year, we reminded agencies to spend enough time to plan, design, and come up with program of work of their projects. Once the budget is released, they are ready to implement the plan,” Laceras told the Philippine News Agency on Thursday.

The budget department is more concerned of outlay for infrastructure projects due to procurement problems, triggering delays in the implementation phase.

As of November 2017, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in Eastern Visayas has an absorptive capacity of 85 percent, higher than the previous year’s fund utilization rate.

Before December last year, the DPWH has just disbursed PHP20.48 billion of the P36.54 billion allocation for 2017.

“Sad to say, the budget for infrastructure is not maximized due to procurement problems, which boils down to poor planning,” Laceras said .

The official reminded offices to perform well not with the intent to receive performance bonus, but to ensure the delivery of programs and services to beneficiaries. (SQM/PNA)