COA questions DOT’s P17 million Intramuros rebranding project

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Tourism (DOT)’s P17-million project to reintroduce Intramuros as a tourist destination remains unimplemented despite the release of the fund as early as January 2016, according to the Commission on Audit (COA).

Based on the COA’s annual audit report published on its website recently, the DOT transferred the budget to its attached agency, Intramuros Administration (IA), on Jan. 18, 2016 for the rebranding campaign dubbed “Promise and Possibilities in Intramuros.”

The project aims to promote Intramuros as a premier tourism destination and encourage potential investors to participate in its redevelopment.

In its 2016 audit report, the COA called the attention of the IA management for its failure to implement the project despite the availability of funds.

The COA attributed the non-implementation of the program to the “late approval of the revised project components.”

The revised project was approved by then tourism secretary Wanda Teo on Oct. 6, 2017, the COA noted.

The project’s total cost amounted to P17,096,157.88 based on the revised plan.

The project covers the replacement of existing walking maps, production of flyers for Fort Santiago, Casa Manila and Baluarte de San Diego, production of tour booklets and souvenir items, and revision of brochures for the venues rented out by IA (P2 million); online campaign and audio-visual presentations including redevelopment of the InfoMuros app and Intramuros’ online newsletter Graceta De Intramuros (P3 million); production of other print materials including those for social network sites (P765,887.81); development and production of historical markers and installations that reflect the new creative messaging for Intramuros (P4.5 million); and events and special projects that will reintroduce Intramuros as a creative and innovative hub (P6.83 million).

“Despite the availability of funds, none of the project components were completed as of 2017,” the COA said.

Instead, the COA said P450,112.19 of the budget was utilized for the purchase of 30 memo pads with IA logo (P5,636.96), six boxes of file envelopes and bond papers with IA logo (P144,475.23) and the holding of “El Museo Del Prado En Filipinas” exhibit (P300,000).

It said the DOT did not assign an officer-in-charge to monitor the project’s implementation.

The COA, however, said the IA has agreed to the audit team’s recommendation to create a committee in charge of the implementation and completion of the project.