Disaster rehabilitation - Philippines; memorandum audit report

Audit report covers the period 9/76-6/78 and is based on document review. With $4,936,000 of the $5 million loan expended (the $37,000 balance was deobligated), 16 versus a targeted 14 flood control systems and 12 of 16 planned irrigation systems were repaired. Rehabilitating flood control structures entailed rebuilding and extending revetments, repairing and raising earth dikes, and constructing rock spur dikes to prevent further critical erosion. Irrigation system work involved repairing or replacing small concrete structures. To implement these tasks, excess U.S. construction equipment was provided and special hydrologic studies were prepared. The project implementors -- the Philippine Government"s (PG"s) National Economic and Development Authority, Bureau for Public Works, and National Irrigation Administration -- prepared detailed cost estimates which were revised as work progressed. They also wrote periodic status and trip reports, indicative of adequate project monitoring and evaluation. Both USAID/P and the PG acted as responsible managers, devising less costly methods when planned work proved too costly or impractical. Finally, the project was completed within a reasonably short time (10 months) after the targeted date of 7/31/77.