Baseline Study and Quarterly Verification Audits of the Philippines Public Health Project (PPHP) (WB GPOBA Grant TF 010757)
Country: Philippines
Since project activities followed the output-based aid model of reimbursement, based on verified results, WB engaged the services of PRIMEX to serve as the independent verification agent (IVA) for the PPHP. As IVA, PRIMEX played a key role in the verification of PSPI’s claims for reimbursement of funds that had been advanced for project expenses. More specifically, the PRIMEX IVA Team was responsible for verifying that: (i) the birthing homes assisted by the project have been issued maternal care package (MCP) accreditation certificates by PhilHealth within the prescribed timeline; (ii) said accredited birthing homes have provided services and claimed MCP benefits with PhilHealth for three months; (iii) the Quintile 2 families listed in the National Health Targeting System (NHTS) around project-supported facilities have been enrolled in PhilHealth; (iv) meetings have been conducted with barangay health workers (BHWs) from communities with supported facilities on PhilHealth enrolment policies; and (v) vouchers were sold and encashed based on guidelines, including compliance with documentary and project requirements. In addition, the IVA Team (i) ensured that the subsidy ceilings among the project components are observed; (ii) prepared reports and made recommendations on the disbursement amount of the OBA subsidy to Population Services Pilipinas Inc. (PSPI) and the WB Task Team Leader (TTL); and (iii) verified baseline information as needed.
These tasks were performed by an IVA team composed of the following specialists: (i) Team Leader/Public Health Specialist, who exercised technical leadership and orchestrated the day-to-day activities of the project and is mainly responsible for output verification, including verifying all pre-agreed indicators as evidence of the achievement of outputs claimed, and the preparation of the required reports; (ii) Health Financing Specialist, who was responsible for (a) verifying that PhilHealth Region 8 had appropriate processes and fraud mitigation detection measures in place and (b) examining financial records and audited statements to verify enrollment and co-payment received, billing records, revenue from user payments, other funding received, and GPOBA contribution claimed; and (iii) Construction Engineer, who was responsible for the physical verification of the (a) condition of the physical facilities (e.g., treatment rooms) and major equipment of the service providers and (b) functionality of the physical facilities of the service providers and their conformity with Department of Health’s (DOH) construction and operation and maintenance (O&M) standards and WB’s environment safeguards.