COA flags OVP livelihood program

December 3, 2025 | 12:00am

MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Audit (COA) has flagged the Office of the Vice President (OVP)’s Mag Negosyo ‘Ta Day livelihood program.

State auditors cited the program’s questionable selection of beneficiaries, lack of proper evaluation of business proposals and delayed liquidation of granted financial aid.

Around P3.42 million in cash aid had been granted to 138 beneficiaries from Jan. 1, 2024 to Sept. 30, 2024, the COA said in its 2024 annual audit report, citing disbursement vouchers submitted.

Of the amount, 128 people received P1.92 million and 10 non-government organizations and civil society groups obtained P1.5 million.

In violation of the program’s manual of operations, none of the beneficiaries’ business proposals were reviewed by the Department of Trade and Industry or Philippine Deposit Insurance Corp., auditors stressed.

The OVP did not prepare a written agreement with the two bodies on their supposed roles to review and endorse proposals, auditors noted.

Of the 128 individual beneficiaries, eight people failed to submit certification from their respective barangays that they have no derogatory record on file.

Only 11 of 83 sample beneficiaries reviewed by auditors were timely visited or monitored by the OVP upon the release of funds.

Fourteen sample beneficiaries were not visited at all.

Regular monitoring and evaluation is needed to ensure that the seed capital fund, or initial funding, is used for micro-enterprise development, the COA said.

Due to the OVP’s failure, auditors might be unable to determine “whether the beneficiaries were provided with a sustainable income source and had improved their socio-economic status.”

Liquidation of P465,000 granted to 31 people and P1.65 million to 11 groups had been delayed for up to 154 days, the COA noted.

In response, the OVP said it is reviewing the program’s manual of operations, adding that sanctions could be imposed on beneficiaries for non-compliance and late submissions.

A project assessment tool has been created to evaluate the feasibility and viability of proposals, the OVP said.

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