Despite using 96 percent of its budget—or P71.63 million—on a solid waste volume reduction program, the Environmental Management Bureau under the Department of Environment and Natural Resources has completed only 68 materials recovery facilities in various local government units, against its target of 225 in 2017, state auditors say.
In a report, the Commission on Audit said EMB received a P75-million appropriation to build MRFs in 225 LGUs, of which P74.63 million was obligated and P71.63 million was actually spent.
Memorandums of agreement and work and financial plans approved by the EMB and the LGUs said all MRFs were supposed to be built and operational by the end of 2017.
But an on-site inspection by the audit team showed the agency’s performance fell far short of its target.
“Of the 208 LGUs [inspected/validated], only 68 or 32.69 percent were able to establish and operate the MRFs, while 140 LGUs or 67.31 percent were not able to operate the MRFs due to various reasons,” the CoA report read.
Of the 140 local governments without any operational MRF, CoA said 85 of them had not even started at all, while another 35 reported ongoing construction work.
“The delay in the completion of the establishment of MRFs defeated the purpose of providing an ecological solid waste management facility, particularly for the collection, segregation, recycling or biodegradable, recyclable, compostable and reusable wastes thereby depriving the intended beneficiaries of the benefits,” CoA said.
It noted that the agency also augmented its manpower by hiring 976 contract-of-service personnel in 2017 and paying P125.464 million for their compensation.
Such recruitment was in addition to EMB’s 1,225 regular employees, CoA said.
