Riviera Maya, Q.R. — The Superior Audit of the Federation (ASF) has reported finding millions in irregularities in current federal projects. In a recent report, the Auditoría Superior de la Federación (ASF) said they located more than 300 million in irregularities in current federal projects such as Dos Bocas and the Maya Train.
The agency says among the main observations are unreported amounts and contracts executed incorrectly. They say the Dos Bocas Refinery and the Maya Train, flagship projects of the current administration, have 309 million peso that require clarification by authorities and agencies responsible for the destination of those resources.
Their findings were released in a report corresponding to the review of the 2020 Public Account.
Regarding the Dos Bocas Refinery, in Paraíso, Tabasco, audits found 52.9 million pesos due to the inconsistency between the estimated amounts versus those actually executed as well as improper payments in the categories of senior and junior professionals without accrediting their specialty, over payments in the clearing of jungle areas.
The agency also found awarding of contracts by invitation and by direct assignment instead of holding open competitions.
The project carried out by Pemex Transformación Industrial (PTRI) does not have the analysis and opinion of the project, despite the fact that the Committee of Strategies and Investments and the Audit Committee of Pemex request it.
On the other hand, PTRI, in coordination with Pemex Corporativo, does not have in its planning the strategies for the supply of crude oil to the refinery and for the logistics of oil products.
In relation to the Maya Train, observations of 256.1 million pesos were found prepaid in a lump sum for work not yet done rather than paying the contract once the work was completed.
The report also found a lack of environmental impact statements for sections 2 and 3 and noted that the National Fund for the Promotion of Tourism (FONATUR) spent 9.7 million on a project for which 382,000 was not accounted for in the public account.
The ASF says Fonatur did not have statistical records on the execution of activities and works related to mitigation measures, prevention and/or understanding of the environmental factors flora, fauna, soil, air, and underground hydrology related to environmental impacts.
Something similar happens with the indigenous consultations of 2019, since the progress in solving the problems cannot be evaluated because the reported actions are not sufficient despite the fact that in 2020, 30 follow-up meetings were held.
There are also irregularities in the contracts since they were carried out by means of the Public Sector Acquisitions, Leasing and Services Law (LAASSP) when they should have been carried out by the Public Works and Related Services Law.
For these reasons, it is not possible to verify the fulfillment of what was delivered or the progress of services.
“A request for the intervention of the Internal Control Body in Fonatur was issued, so that, if considered appropriate, it investigates the acts or omissions that could constitute administrative responsibilities derived from the findings found in the justifications for which supported the exception procedures for public bidding.”
The ASF pointed out that the Maya Train project is being carried out in a disjointed manner due to the lack of a program to plan the actions of its construction, as well as the resources to achieve sustainable development and care for the environment.
In the document, it warns that “if the weaknesses found are not corrected, the risk that the project will not come into operation on the scheduled date increases and the objective of promoting economic development, triggering inclusive tourism development in the Peninsula of Yucatan, create jobs, promote sustainable development, protect the environment in the area and promote land use planning.”
