THE Commission on Audit is seeking an explanation from the Antipolo City government on why it is planning to release funds to nongovernment organizations (NGOs) of P57.8 million, despite the lack of proper documentation.

In the same light, state auditors urged lawmakers, including Sen. Jose “Jinggoy” Ejercito-Estrada and Rep. Roberto Puno of Antipolo to investigate where the money they allotted to the city actually went.

According to an Audit report, with the elections just around the corner, local officials of the city should answer where and when they will give the proper documents after the commission encountered difficulty validating the said assistance fund to at least two nongovernment organizations.

The commission said that the city government released additional funds, taken from the pork barrel of legislators, to one nongovernment unit, which has failed to liquidate the money it received earlier.

City officials, the agency said, should see to it that Audit commission rules are followed and a system is established to monitor projects done by nongovernment agencies and people’s organizations to ensure that funds given to them are used for their intended purpose.

Officials should also check the validity and authenticity of reports and documents submitted by the groups to support their use of the funds, auditors added.

The commission, in the report, said that the Antipolo government released P23.7 million to the group Kaunlaran at Kagalingan in Antipolo Inc. (Kaka), with the money coming from the priority development assistance fund (PDAF) of Puno.

Another P35 million was released to People’s Organization for Progress and Development Foundation Inc. from the PDAF of Estrada.

According to the auditing body, however, the nongovernment units failed to comply with all of the documentary requirements enumerated in the commission’s circular before the funds were released to them.

These requirements include the certificate of filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, the disclosure of other related businesses and an affidavit of the secretary that none of its incorporators, directors and officials are related up to the fourth civil degree to officials of the government office authorized to approve the release of funds.

The rules are meant to provide control and guidance in the granting, use, management, and recording of funds released to nongovernment agencies and people’s organizations.

The Audit agency further said that the memorandum of agreement between NGOs and Antipolo only contained general terms and lacked details such as the time schedule for the release of funds, the date of completion of the project and the specific period to liquidate the funds, among others.

It also said that Kaka received additional funds even if it has yet to liquidate earlier releases or submit an interim fund utilization report.

Kaka’s projects were supposed to have been completed in July 2010, but at the end of that year, it has yet to liquidate the funds, state auditors added.

The commission also found that Antipolo officials were not even inspecting the projects that were supposed to be implemented by the nongovernment agencies.

The Manila Times tried but failed to get an answer from Mayor Nilo Leyble of Antipolo over the accusation.