MANILA,
JANUARY 20, 2012 (ABS-CBN)
abs-cbnNEWS.com - The World Bank
confirmed on Tuesday "ineligible expenditures" as contained in an aide memoire
in connection with a $21.9 million project intended for judicial reforms.
In a statement, the bank said "the Aide Memoire summarized the findings and
recommendations of the mission, pointing out implementation issues that included
some ineligible expenditures. The [Judicial Reform Support Project] is scheduled
to close on June 30, 2012 and the focus for the remaining period is to bring the
project to a closure."
ABS-CBN News came out with a story last week on the aide memoire, but some
parties questioned the authenticity of the report.
In a statement this morning, Malacanang said it has verified the report with
the World Bank itself. In a text message, Budget Secretary Florencio Abad said
he was one of 13 officials given a copy of the aide memoire.
The bank explained the aide memoire is only a monitoring tool "that captures
the World Bank's implementation review findings and recommendations."
"Through the Aide Memoire, the Bank informs the appropriate country
authorities and works with them to address implementation issues. Given the
deliberative nature of information, the Aide Memoire is usually not disclosed to
the public," it said.
Supreme Court spokesman Jose Midas Marquez earlier said the high court's
program implementing agency has yet to give its reaction on the aide memoire.
Its reactions will then become part of a final report of the World Bank that
will be disclosed to the public.
He questioned the timing of the release of the aide memoire amid the
impeachment trial against Chief Justice Renato Corona.
The World Bank said it has "rigorous processes for monitoring the management
and use of project funds for intended purposes with due regard to economy and
efficiency. This monitoring includes routine implementation review missions to
help the Government assess the progress of implementation, review achievements
against project development objectives, identify implementation issues, and
agree on next steps."
The bank said the JRSP is intended to develop "a more effective and
accessible Judiciary that would foster public trust and confidence, through the
implementation of reforms under four components comprising: (a) improving case
adjudication and access to justice; (b) enhancing institutional integrity; (c)
strengthening institutional capacity; and (d) supporting the reforms of the
judicial system and the Project Management Office."
FROM MANILA BULLETIN
World Bank disowns JRSP report By CHINO S. LEYCO
January 16, 2012, 5:38pm
MANILA, Philippines — The World Bank denied on Monday it released a report on
the Supreme Court's Judicial Reform Support Project (JRSP) that noted its
dissatisfaction with the way the project was being implemented.
Erika Leann Lacson-Esguerra, World Bank program assistant for external
relations, said Monday the bank did not release to the media a supposed memo
regarding the "unsatisfactory" progress of the high court's loan.
"This email message did not come from the World Bank. Any official statement
from the World Bank will be posted online (www.worldbank.org.ph),"
Lacson-Esguerra said.
On Monday, several newspapers including Manila Bulletin received a press
release on JRSP's progress report that claimed it was an official statement
coming from the World Bank.
The press release said that since mid-2010, or months after Supreme Court
Chief Justice Renato Corona took over, progress in attaining the project
development objective and implementation have been rated "unsatisfactory."
"The World Bank also noted the continuing procurement delays, uneven pace and
quality of implementation, limited information on project results and fiduciary
issues," the statement read.
Data from the World Bank's website revealed that the pace of implementation
has picked up under Corona's leadership, saying more than $1.3 million was
disbursed in the first half of 2011 alone.
Of the total project cost of $24.4 million, which aims to make the judicial
system more accessible, about $21.9 million would come from World Bank's
International Bank of Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) and the remaining
$2.5 million will come from the national government.
Data from the World Bank showed that the bank has disbursed a total of $16.47
million as of December 31.
It also showed that the JRSP project could not be completed by December 31,
2009, and had to be extended by 18 months, to June 30, 2011.
The extension, however, was not enough, so the project was extended anew to
June 30, 2012.
The bank attributed the delays to implementation and coordination issues in
the Supreme Court, lengthy procurement processes as well as changes in the
judiciary leadership.
The World Bank also cited the severe Typhoon "Ondoy" in 2009 as a setback
because of the damage it brought to courts and records.
The bank also said that aside from the extension, the loan was also modified,
with some loans reallocated and $500,000 cancelled.
World Bank did not disclose of reason for the cancellation.
"There are no changes to components but there are modifications to some
activities within components. These changes have no implications for the
development objectives," the World Bank said.
On Monday, President Benigno S. Aquino III called for a review on the use of
judiciary fund for transparency after the impeachment trial of Chief Justice
Renato Corona is finished. (Additional reports from
Genalyn D. Kabiling and Hannah L. Torregoza)
Chief News Editor:
Sol Jose Vanzi
© Copyright, 2012
by PHILIPPINE HEADLINE NEWS ONLINE
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