The Commission on Audit (COA) has flagged significant delays in the Office of the President’s (OP) three-year Information Systems Strategic Plan (ISSP), reporting that 72 percent of its digitization projects have yet to be carried out.
In its 2024 audit report, COA said only P88.5 million, or 27.52 percent, of the ISSP’s total P321.7-million allocation was used from 2022 to 2024, leaving P233.1 million unspent as of December last year. The ISSP was designed to modernize and streamline operations within the OP through digital platforms and information systems.
The OP attributed the delays to “changes of management priorities” during implementation. It said several projects remain “in the pipeline” pending additional requirements or specification adjustments, while others were deferred because they were merged or are being merged with similar initiatives.
COA warned that the lack of implementation undermines the ISSP’s purpose and prevents the OP from optimizing its planned digital reforms. It urged the OP to reassess the ISSP against current management priorities and craft a clearer, more actionable roadmap. The audit body also recommended establishing a more dynamic reporting and monitoring mechanism to improve project execution.
Gender spending lacked proper endorsement
COA also noted that while the OP spent over P354 million on gender-related programs in 2024, meeting the mandatory minimum budget, it failed to secure an endorsed Gender and Development (GAD) Plan and Budget from the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW). The endorsement ensures that gender programs are aligned with national GAD guidelines.
State auditors said the OP proceeded with implementation despite lacking the required PCW-endorsed plan, which resulted from the agency’s failure to submit necessary GAD documents. The OP explained that frequent reorganizations of its GAD Focal Point System caused delays in preparation, review, and approval of its GPB and GAD Accomplishment Report. It assured COA that it is committed to full compliance.
Lapses in climate change expenditure tagging
The OP was further cited for failing to follow the mandatory Climate Change Expenditure Tagging (CCET) requirements for 2024. COA reported that the OP did not tag any climate-related expenditures and failed to submit both the CCET Quality Assurance Review Form and a copy of its annual climate change plan to the Climate Change Commission.
While the OP argued that none of its programs fall under CCET categories, COA maintained that all agencies are required by the General Appropriations Act to identify and tag climate-related spending.
