• THERESA MAE DULMAN
The Commission on Audit (COA) routinely examines all Bacolod LGU disbursements each year, regardless of whether a special audit is requested, three committee chairpersons said during the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) regular session Nov. 4.
The SP committees on Appropriations and Finance, on Government Assets, and on Laws, Ordinances and Good Government, chaired by councilors Jude Thaddeus Sayson, Caesar Distrito, and Al Victor Espino, respectively, in their second partial joint committee report adopted by the SP yesterday, pointed out that the 2025 COA annual audit report received by the city in May 2026 proves that LGU accounts undergo continuous, mandatory scrutiny under standard procedures.
“Every year, COA makes an audit report on all disbursements made by the City of Bacolod,” Sayson told reporters, adding the audit report for 2026 will come out in 2027. “So, even without a request for a special audit, it is normal that COA audits us.”
Regarding the legislative building project, Sayson said that around P300 million has been paid to the contractor out of the original P515-million contract price, reflecting roughly 70 to 80 percent completion.
He addressed questions regarding the additional P250 million realigned from the Burgos Public Market redevelopment budget, and assured that the funds remain intact with the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP).
“What we are talking about now is the P515 million, the P250 million has not been touched yet,” Sayson said. “It needs a new contract and new bidding for the additional components.”
He added that the three committees plan to issue a third and final report on the status of loan-funded projects of previous city administrations, including the ongoing construction of the Bacolod MassKara Coliseum, which is targeted for completion by the first quarter of next year.
Meanwhile, Councilor Homer Bais voted against the joint committee report adoption, citing “unresolved discrepancies in project figures and bank documentation”.
Bais questioned the DBP certification presented by the tri-committee, and sought the original summary of loan releases, as of Sept. 30.
Bais noted that while he has the records, as of June, there remains no clarity on whether any withdrawals were made between July and October.
He also pointed out that total cost estimates for the legislative building conflict across reports, shifting between P515 million and P765 million, with the additional P250-million component.
Bais urged the three committees to reconcile all conflicting data directly with the DBP before finalizing its recommendations. | TMD
