The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority acknowledged the delay in the implementation of the flood management projects flagged down by the Commission on Audit, citing a number of factors as reasons why they are not yet completed.
MMDA Acting Chairman Atty. Don Artes said that the 33 projects under the Metro Manila Flood Management Project (MMFMP) Phase 1 which were not yet fully implemented as of December 2022 are funded by the World Bank (WB) and Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB).
Artes noted that since it is a foreign-assisted project, the procurement process is different from the usual early procurement process under Republic Act 9184.
“The projects underwent a tedious process and discussion with the World Bank before they were approved and implemented.”
“The projects underwent a tedious process and discussion with the World Bank before they were approved and implemented,” Artes said.
“The WB reviews the bidding process done by the MMDA. Sometimes, they recommend continuation of the project rejected by our agency which in turn results in contract cost and duration revision,” he added.
As for the site relocation or project re-design, Artes said it was approved by the World Bank.
“It is the World Bank that recommends and decides whether a contract shall be extended and coverage widened.”
“It is the World Bank that recommends and decides whether a contract shall be extended and coverage widened,” he explained.
The official likewise said that the period of the projects being questioned was within the period 2018-2022, years when pandemic hit the country while some projects were covered by the election ban which both contributed to the delay of its implementation.
Artes assured that the MMFMP – Project Management Office is now closely monitoring all the project deliverables to ensure that they were implemented within the given timeframe.
Out of the 47 projects mentioned in the COA report, 27 were completed as of this time, 12 are ongoing and will be completed this year, three are ongoing procurement process, and five were already abandoned as they are no longer necessary or relevant.
Further, Artes said the World Bank has given MMDA a satisfactory rating for the said project and has recommended to extend it for two more years.
