COA puzzled on delay of Capitol-Ayala deal ruling

Monday, February 13, 2012

PROVINCIAL auditor Ernie Villa confirmed that his office has not yet received any decision or any communication from its national office regarding the contract between the Provincial Government and Ayala Land Inc. on the lease and purchase of the 7.7-hectare prime Capitol property.

“It is still a wait and see situation,” Villa said.

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He added that if ever a decision has been made, it will be coursed through the regional auditor’s office.

He said he is also wondering why it has been talking quite a long period for the Commission on Audit (COA) central office to decide.

“We have no choice but to wait,” he added.

Endorsements of the project were already made by various stakeholders in the province, especially those from prominent organizations like the Metro Bacolod Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MBCCI).

MBCCI passed a resolution urging COA to hasten the approval of the contract so that development works can already be started.

Thursday last week, the City Council of Bacolod also passed a resolution urging COA to decide on the said contract.

The contract was forwarded to COA central office last August and was supposed to have been taken up in the body’s en banc meeting last January 7. However, it was not taken up allegedly due to lack of time. It was calendared for the February 7 COA en banc meeting in Tuguegarao, Cagayan but until now, there has been no word about any decision.

Villa said the Provincial Government has submitted all the necessary documents for the said contract.

He added that they expect a COA decision this week.

ALI is set to pour in some P6 billion in development projects once the contract is approved by COA.