Senator Win Gatchalian vowed to support programs that would strengthen the Commission on Audit’s capacity to prevent ghost and substandard infrastructure projects amid public outrage over corruption.

“Para maibalik ang kumpiyansa ng taong bayan, let’s empower COA, give them the tools, the funds so we can prevent these things from happening in 2026,” Gatchalian vowed during the Senate hearing on the audit agency’s proposed budget for 2026, referring to corruption issues involving ghost and substandard flood control projects.  

One of COA’s initiatives that Gatchalian vowed to support includes an additional P2.7 billion for the agency’s pre-audit program exclusively for the Department of Public Works and Highways.

The proposed allocation will be earmarked mostly for salaries and compensation for additional personnel.  A pre-audit is a preventive process that examines transactions before they happen while a post-audit is a corrective process that reviews them after they have been completed.  

The senator said COA should be supported in its ongoing fraud audit of flood control projects to ensure accountability. “Dyan papasok kung sino talaga ‘yung may mga kinalaman,” he added. 

Photo by Mark Cayabyab / OS WIN GATCHALIAN