COA Flags Deficiencies in VP Office's Relief Operations Documentation

The Commission on Audit (COA) has cited the Office of the Vice President (OVP) for deficiencies in control and documentation during its relief operations involving nearly P168 million in 2025. The OVP stated it would release a statement after reviewing the COA findings. According to COA's 273-page report on the 2025 Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund (DRRMF), several shortcomings were identified in the OVP's implementation of relief operations. These included inconsistencies between situational reports, deviations from approved mission orders, issuance of open-ended mission orders, and deficiencies in beneficiary and distribution records. The audit noted discrepancies between situational reports prepared by concerned agencies and local government units, and those prepared by the OVP. These involved relief operations for welfare goods worth P19.67 million, with 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. Changes affected schedules, distribution locations, quantities of relief items, and the amount of rice distributed. Furthermore, 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 stated this lack of defined beneficiary targets weakened the basis for determining the quantities of relief goods requested and distributed. Deficiencies were also identified 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 reported that 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, such as situational reports, Mission Orders, and verified master lists. In one instance, a required Relief Distribution Sheet was unavailable after records were reportedly lost during Typhoon Kristine, and was replaced with explanatory and certification documents. COA concluded that these 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. Atty. Paolo Panelo, spokesperson for Vice President Sara Duterte, stated that the OVP will release a statement after reviewing the COA notice. "The OVP will issue a response or statement once they have studied the COA notice or letter," Panelo said, indicating the Vice President's resolve to address the development. Source: GMA News Philippines