COA finds control, documentation deficiencies in OVP relief operations - GMA Network

The Commission on Audit (COA) has cited the Office of the Vice President (OVP) over inconsistencies, deviations from guidelines, and missing or incomplete documentation in its relief operations involving nearly P168 million in 2025.

In its 273-page report on the 2025 Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund (DRRMF), COA identified several deficiencies in the implementation of the OVP’s relief operations.

These included inconsistencies between situational reports, deviations from approved mission orders, the issuance of open-ended mission orders, and deficiencies in beneficiary and distribution records.

COA also noted missing or incomplete documents required to support the relief operations.

In its audit, COA identified inconsistencies between situational reports prepared by concerned agencies and local government units and those prepared by the OVP. The discrepancies involved relief operations covering welfare goods worth P19.67 million, including differences in the reported number of affected families.

State auditors also found that 24 relief operations involving P39.01 million worth of welfare goods deviated from approved Mission Orders without documented approval. The changes involved schedules, distribution locations, quantities of relief items and the amount of rice distributed.

The audit further found that eight Mission Orders covering P84.12 million in relief distributions did not specify target beneficiaries, instead directing the distribution of goods to affected or displaced families.

COA said this lack of defined beneficiary targets weakened the basis for determining the quantities of relief goods requested and distributed.

The audit team also identified deficiencies in beneficiary and distribution records, including uncertified master lists, discrepancies between Relief Distribution Sheets and master lists, incomplete beneficiary information, duplicate entries and unsigned distribution sheets.

In addition, COA said some relief operations used documentary requirements intended for the OVP's Relief for Indigents and Individuals in Crisis and Emergencies program despite being covered by the Disaster Operations Policy Manual.

The audit found that relief operations involving 33,980 beneficiaries and P25.27 million worth of welfare goods lacked complete pre-operation documents, including situational reports, Mission Orders and verified master lists.

In one case, a required Relief Distribution Sheet was unavailable after records were reportedly lost during Typhoon Kristine and was replaced with explanatory and certification documents.

COA said the deficiencies reduced assurance over the completeness, reliability and verifiability of relief distribution records and weakened controls over the OVP's relief operations.

The audit team recommended that the OVP strengthen its review procedures and ensure that operational adjustments, beneficiary lists and distribution records are properly documented, verified and authorized.

It also recommended that future Mission Orders clearly define the scope and coverage of relief operations whenever sufficient information is available during the planning stage.

Vice President Sara Duterte's spokesperson, Atty. Paolo Panelo, said that the OVP will release a statement about the matter after reviewing the COA notice.

"Kakatanggap ko lang ng mga request for comment tungkol diyan at nakikipag-ugnayan pa lang ako ngayong araw sa OVP, kung sino ang puwedeng sumagot dito. Maglalabas naman ng sagot o pahayag ang OVP kapag naaral na nila yung COA notice or letter," Panelo said in an interview on Unang Balita on Thursday.

(I have just received requests for comment regarding that, and I am currently coordinating with the OVP today to determine who can respond to this. The OVP will issue a response or statement once they have studied the COA notice or letter.)

"Kahapon, nung nag-usap kami ang sabi niya, laban tayo attorney. So, hindi siya natitinag, hindi siya magpapatalo sa mga latest development. Alam niyang tumitindig siya sa tama, so tuloy-tuloy lang ang laban," Panelo added.

(Yesterday, when we spoke, she said, 'Let's fight this, Attorney.' She remains undeterred and won't let the latest developments defeat her. She knows she is standing up for what is right, so the fight continues.) —LDF/ VAL, GMA News