COA flags Carcar City for idle completed projects

Local

THE Commission on Audit (COA) has flagged Carcar City for three infrastructure projects which remained idle even after completion.

These projects are the water treatment facility at Takdog, Barangay Poblacion III, worth P19.8 million, which was completed in August 2018; Carcar City Public Transport Terminal, which cost P100.8 million and was completed in November 2020; and the P149.8 million Livestock Auction Market at the New City Center, Poblacion III, with project completion dated April 2024.

These projects amounting to P270,765,000 were awarded to QM Builders.

For the water treatment facility, the Regional Technical Audit Group (RTAG) found during an inspection in 2023 that there was damage to the tempered glass and roofing of the drying pit and roofing of the sieving area after the onslaught of Typhoon Odette. The facility also remained non-operational due to a lack of personnel and a septage collection truck.

Despite COA’s recommendations, no concrete measures were taken to operationalize, repurpose, or maximize the facility.

The state bureau said the facility remained idle and showed signs of deterioration, structural damage, and overgrown vegetation.

For the city’s public transport terminal, according to COA, the infrastructure remains idle due to incomplete components, which include the installation of a glass wall, water tank, tiles, doors and windows, as well as the construction of the drop-off area.

As to the livestock auction market at the New City Center, the facility remained non-operational due to the lack of essential facilities and equipment, including water and electricity supply, flooring, livestock holding pens, paging system, CCTV cameras, and weighing scales.

In its audit observations and recommendations in 2025, the state bureau said the continued depreciation of these idle assets shows inefficiency in the utilization of government resources.

“Continued depreciation of idle assets highlights the inefficiency in the utilization of government resources and defeats the purpose for which they were constructed. It results not only in the deterioration of the facilities but also in foregone opportunities for revenue generation and delivery of essential public services,” COA said.

It furthered that this situation also points to weak project planning, poor coordination among offices, and delayed action by the LGU to operationalize the completed projects.

COA recommended to the LGU, particularly to the City Engineer and the City Planning and Development Officer, to act immediately to prevent further deterioration of the projects and provide the necessary funds, equipment and facilities, including personnel, to operationalize the said infrastructure projects.

The LGU is also advised to develop an appropriate plan for their implementation based on the city’s needs and capacity.(MyTVCebu)