COA: P196 million machine at Mactan airport remained unutilized

CEBU, Philippines — The Commission on Audit has questioned why Mactan-Cebu International Airport Authority bought a P196 million mobile X-ray machine that has reportedly remained unused since January 2020.

State auditors flagged the transaction considering that the machine’s warranty period of one year had already expired without MCIAA testing its full operational capacity. The equipment’s value has also depreciated by P9 million despite not being used.

As part of its security improvement initiative, MCIAA procured the high-level or state-of-the-art security equipment in 2019.

But COA, after an inspection, found that the mobile X-ray machine was operated only during the conduct of a one-week training in January 2020, which was attended by 11 MCIAA personnel.

“During our second inspection, none of the 11 trained personnel could recall how to operate the whole functionalities of this electronic equipment,” read the 2020 audit report.

COA said MCIAA cannot use the pandemic as an excuse since there were still flights, although limited. It also questioned why it was not used during the pre-pandemic period from January to March 2020.

“In our analysis, the lack of clear plan or direction on how the MCIAA can maximize the use of this equipment before it was procured was the cause of these undesirable consequences,” the audit agency added.

Explanation

MCIAA, for its part, explained that it deemed it fit to defer the use of the machine while COVID-19 is still prevalent as part of measures to prevent transmission of the virus.

The authority said it was operating with lean workforce because a number of its security personnel reportedly contracted the virus or got sick. There are other guards and security personnel but they are manning the perimeter and the terminal to implement COVID-related protocols.

The machine, MCIAA said, needs to be manned by at least two persons per shift or six persons per day.

“While we understand COA’s concern with regard to depreciation of the equipment, we should also not disregard the fact that we are in the middle of a pandemic where lives are at stake. No life is cheaper that the lost depreciation cost. Should COA insist, then do they mean that the equipment is more important than lives?” the MCIAA said.

COA has reminded MCIAA that the equipment was delivered before the pandemic and its audit team was also aware of the significant reduction in number of flights since the pandemic. Consequently, the commission said that security manpower may not be as busy because of very minimal passengers.

“This being so, there will therefore be available manpower to utilize for the mobile X-ray,” COA said.

During the exit conference, the manager of the Emergency and Security Services Department of MCIAA reportedly emphasized that the machine is intended to enhance airport security.

The MCIAA management also expressed that safety and security should not be compromised.

COA said that there is apparent conflict between management’s alleged concern for safety and security and its decision not to use the modern and highly technical, very expensive security machine.

“It is also noted that all other discussions and justifications by management are beyond the point of this instant audit observation,” COA added. — JMD (FREEMAN)