PUBLIC LAW 480, TITLE II; CATHOLIC RELIEF SERVICES

Evaluation covers the period 10/76-1/79 and is based on a standard audit review. CRS management is, on the whole, satisfactory at meeting Title II objectives to reach targeted families. CRS distributes Title II commodities through its maternal/child health, supplementary school feeding, and adult feeding programs. The shift in emphasis to nutritional targeting of Title II commodities stimulated efforts by the Philippine government to develop a national nutritional policy. During the evaluation period, over 119 million tons of food were distributed, reaching a total of 1,627,489 needy individuals. The following management recommendations are made to improve CRS operations: Program levels should more closely match the budgetary capabilities of host government ministries and agencies to assure transportation funding for commodity shipments. Operators of distribution centers need to be closely monitored to ensure that they discharge their responsibilities fully, including the 100% weight verification of incoming shipments and changes in the number of recipients. It is imperative that accurate records on participants and their weight changes be kept, as well as commodity receipts, and records of disbursements and balances at distribution centers. Greater care must be exercised to ensure that food distribution reaches the intended beneficiaries rather than being shared by all members of the extended family. The follow-up of ex-recipients is required to avoid a future need to re-enroll them. Bakeries participating in the School Feeding Program need to be watched more closely so that full accountability exists. Controls over internal transport should be strengthened. A systematic follow-up and resolution of all outstanding claims regarding food losses during delivery must be pursued. Offloading losses need to be reduced by improving control and supervision of all food transfers from the port to storage warehouses, to distribution centers.