THE COMMISSION on Audit flagged P4.48 million non-operational water system projects in three public schools in Davao City.

In its 2022 Annual Audit Report, COA said Davao City completed six water projects worth P8.974 million which were funded through the Special Education Fund.

However, the three projects are not operational due to inadequate planning and coordination among concerned offices.

Meanwhile, report said out of the 35 SEF-funded water system projects completed in the current and previous years, only the water systems at Manuel L. Quezon Elementary School in D. Ponce Street worth P1,491,849.44, Matina Aplaya Elementary School worth P1,494,909, and Dona Carmen Denia National High School in Barangay Poblacion have not been in operation.

It noted based on inquiries done by the audit team, the contractors and the Davao City Water District are requiring the upgrade of the water meter service to be able to cope with the volume to have a sufficient water supply.

“The existing facilities of the Dumoy Water Supply System (DWSS) can only provide 30 percent of the total water demand of the proposed school buildings at present, and the total additional water requirements can only be supplied upon the full implementation of the Davao City Bulk Water Supply Project (DCBWSP), as per letter of recommendation from the DCWD addressed to the Principals of Manuel L. Quezon and Matina Aplaya Elementary Schools,” the COA said.

“There is also a need to install a Pressure Sustaining Valve to make sure the school will be supplied regularly with sufficient water so as not to affect the present water supply to the neighboring community when they become operational. However, this will entail much cost to the schools,” it added.