Road maintenance II

Audit report covers the period 3/1/80-3/31/83 and is based on document review, site visits, and interviews with project personnel. Although the GOH"s ability to maintain roads has been improved (through provision of equipment, facilities, training, and technical assistance), much remains to be done. The GOH"s Permanent National Highway Maintenance Service (SEPRRN) has maintained only 2,150 kms (vs. 2,847 targeted) of road, and due to a lack of GOH funds, it is doubtful whether roads will be completely maintained in the future. SEPRRN has not yet fully implemented a preventive maintenance program and there is little evidence that preventive maintenance is being performed on AID-purchased vehicles and equipment worth more than $3 million. The shortfall in road maintenance has been due mainly to inability to repair inoperable equipment, due in turn to lack of GOH funds for spare parts. Of 114 pieces of equipment which were inoperable in 3/83 (29% of the SEPRRN fleet), 19 have been waiting for repair since 1981 and 39 since 1982. Moreover, when repairs are made, replaced parts are not retained for possible reuse. An effective inventory control system for spare parts has not been established, either, and fully 10% of spare parts housed are unusable; a computer purchased in 1980 for inventory control has since broken down and not been repaired. The garage"s only hydraulic lift also has broken down and 2 other AID-purchased lifts were never installed. An AID-funded communication system was replaced with one more efficient, and the original system has not been put to use elsewhere. In addition, although SEPRRN has trained more employees than planned (1,052 vs. 696), it has failed to place them in positions related to their training and many have been lured to the private sector. SEPRRN also mishandled a refund settlement, failing either to deposit it in the bank or show it as an adjustment, with no explanation tendered. Finally, prior to revising its reimbursement procedures in 5/81, USAID/H inadvertently paid more than $8,000 in duplicate expense claims submitted by SEPRRN. Recommendations address the above-noted problems.