COA: OVP spent P375 million in confidential funds in 2023

The confidential funds of the Office of the Vice President tripled to more than P300 million in 2023, according to the Commission on Audit. 

In Sandra Aguinaldo’s report in “24 Oras” on Tuesday, the office of Vice President Sara Duterte spent P125 million in confidential funds within 11 days in 2022. But this figure jumped to P375 million in 2023. 

State auditors said the confidential expenses were meant for the safe implementation of various projects and activities under the Good Governance Program, socio-economic program delivery, and official engagements in international and domestic events as directed by the President. 

Aside from the confidential expenses, the COA report found that OVP’s travel expenses also increased last year. 

The OVP spent P20.11 million in 2022, an amount both shared by Duterte and her predecessor Leni Robredo. 

In 2023, the OVP’s travel expenses rose to P42.58 million under Duterte’s helm. 

Of this figure, GMA News Research found that P31.43 million was spent for domestic travel and P11.5 million for international travel. 

Further, the OVP also shelled out more assistance throughout Duterte’s full year in 2023. 

Computation by the GMA News Research showed that the office spent P1.28 billion for assistance, subsidies, and welfare goods last year. This is thrice higher than the P398.42 million spent in 2022. 

Among the assistance granted by the OVP last year were medical/burial assistance, hospitals for medical assistance programs, and medical examinations for its employees and personnel. 

But state auditors observed deficiencies in the distribution of welfare goods due to the lack of guidelines and procedures, and control measures by the OVP. 

“Various deficiencies in the distribution of welfare goods were observed due to gaps in the existing guidelines and procedures and control measures, which is not strictly in accordance with Sections 123 and 124 of the Presidential Decree (PD) No. 1445; thus, the validity and occurrence of the distributions of welfare goods could not be ascertained,” the latest COA report said. 

Further, COA also flagged the lack of inventory of food items already nearing expiration placed inside an unventilated shipping container, but yet to be distributed. 

But the OVP was able to utilize its funds for socioeconomic program delivery and its accomplishments were higher than its targets. 

GMA Integrated News reached out for Duterte’s comment on the audit report. —NB, GMA Integrated News