The Commission on Audit (COA) flagged the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) for not utilizing about ₱1 billion of its 2024 allocation, which could be returned to the Bureau of National Treasury.
State auditors said the MMDA obligated ₱10.8 billion of its ₱12.8 billion budget, but only ₱8.9 billion, or 82.4% of obligations, was disbursed by year-end.
“Budget under-utilization was mainly due to delays in project implementation and procurement, which hindered the timely delivery of services, delayed socio-economic benefits for Metro Manila residents, and increased the risk of fund reversion to the General Fund,” COA’s 2024 audit report read.
The audit noted that gaps between obligated and disbursed funds “signal potential inefficiencies in program execution,” warning that unutilized funds could lapse and require legislative re-authorization.
“This procedural setback not only causes administrative delays, but also hinders medium-term planning, disrupts service delivery, and postpones infrastructure improvements vital to regional development, traffic management, flood control, and urban mobility,” the report added.
In response, the MMDA said it would issue a quarterly memorandum to all implementing units to track program status and coordinate with contractors to expedite claim processing and payments.