The Asian Development Bank has warned of possible corrupt and fraudulent practices in a USD150 million agricultural project implemented in three Philippine regions, Manila Standard Today reports.
The alleged irregularities were observed during a recent review conducted by ADB’s Office of Anticorruption and Integrity on the Infrastructure for Rural Productivity Enhancement Sector project, which aims to boost the incomes of approximately 1 million poor farmers in eastern Visayas, Bicol and Mindanao.
Specifically, the office found that the Philippines’ Department of Agriculture chose a consultancy firm to manage the project 15 days after announcing the opening of the bidding process as opposed to waiting for at least 30 days as required by ADB, Manila Standard Today says.
The agriculture department told the review team that the bank cleared all stages of the bidding process, but there were no records justifying the short advertising period or of ADB’s consent, the newspaper adds.
