By Ducky Paredes
SENATOR “Chiz” Escudero, head of the Senate Finance Committee is asking where P137 billion in 2013 and 2014 went.
“Had we spent that much for the Yolanda affected areas?” Escudero.
“Quite frankly, I don’t see, it, I don’t feel it and certainly the people in Region 8 don’t see it and feel it either,” he says.
Escudero says that P37 billion was allocated for post-Yolanda rehabilitation and reconstruction in 2013 while P100 billion was included in the 2014 national budget.
Escudero wants the agencies to first explain where the money went before his committee will tackle the supplemental budget submitted by Malacañang.
Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez says that he would examine documents coming from the Departments of Budget and Management (DBM), Energy (DoE), Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Interior and Local Government (DILG) and Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the National Housing Authority (NHA), to ascertain where the budget, including foreign donations, went.
Presidential assistant for rehabilitation and recovery, former Senator Panfilo Lacson says that Leyte got the biggest budget from the government coffers among those affected by the typhoon.
Romualdez wants an itemized breakdown or accounting of the ‘Yolanda’ funds.
Abakada party-list Rep. Jonathan de la Cruz notes that the Romualdez group and several other lawmakers have already filed resolutions seeking a full auditing of the Yolanda funds; and yet the agencies concerned seem to be not responding to the call.
Buhay Hayaang Yumabong (Buhay) party-list Rep. Lito Atienza reminded the public that ‘Yolanda’ funds, as reported in the media, were “in the tens or hundreds of billions”, including donations and aid from the private sector and international communities.
Atienza said Congress alone approved 14.6 billion supplemental budget for ‘Yolanda’ and other victims of calamities last year.
“But up to now,” he says “Congress has no idea about the breakdown of how the funds were spent.
Escudero also wants to know if there is a need for a supplemental budget and why the DBM did not include the amount in the 2015 proposed national budget but is now submitting a supplemental budget.
***
Senate President Franklin Drilon sees no hindrance to the passage of the supplemental budget.
“The supplemental is for future needs. This is not a condition that the previous appropriation has been exhausted, because it is possible that in the inadequacy of budget, a new appropriation is being requested,” he adds.
Lacson, meanwhile, insists that Leyte has received a funding of P8.09 billion, which was the biggest among the areas battered by Yolanda.
Of the total amount, Lacson said P3 billion went to infrastructure projects; P 367.44 million for social services; P 4.01 billion for resettlement; and P 714.73 million for livelihood assistance.
“Based on these figures, Tacloban City has received the most funding support from the national government for its rehabilitation needs,” Lacson said.
He noted that the P8.09 billion funding translates to half of Tacloban City’s requested and approved total funding requirement estimated at P 15.73 billion.
“Through this funding support, several projects are already ongoing or have been completed. Among these are the ongoing repair of Tacloban Base Port and Daniel Romualdez Airport which is targeted to be completed by the end of 2014,” Lacson says.
The repair of the city hall, civic center and public market, funded through the Department of Interior and Local Government, are all ongoing, Lacson added.
Lacson said the DSWD has begun distributing Emergency Shelter Assistance (ESA) to affected households with partially and totally damaged houses in safe areas of Tacloban City. ESA distributions will amount to P 315.55 million.
Various livelihood efforts have also been implemented, including Cash for Building Livelihood Assets (CBLA) assistance to 9,725 families; employment program for 1,151 beneficiaries; and repair or replacement of damaged fishing boats for 547 fishermen.
“All targeted 14,433 permanent housing units for Tacloban City are already funded with the total amount of P 4.01 billion. As of today, 1,124 housing units have been completed and 5,526 are being constructed with target completion in 2015,” he said.
“Tacloban is only one of the 171 cities and municipalities directly affected by Yolanda. We are ensuring that all areas in the Yolanda corridor will get the assistance they need,” says Lacson.
***
The People Surge Alliance trooped to the public hearing hosted by the Senate Committee on Urban Planning, Housing and Resettlement at the UP Tacloban College headed by Senator Joseph Victor G. Ejercito, Senator Bongbong Marcos, Rep Alfred “Albee” B. Benitez Negros Occidental, 3 Chairman, Housing and Urban Development, Rep . Romualdez and Rep. Jose Christopher Y. Belmonte, Quezon City.
“It is disgusting that President Aquino and his rehab stooge Panfilo Lacson came out too late with their rehab master plan 10 months after Yolanda’s landfall, and approved this only as a political gimmick in time for the Yolanda anniversary. Now they are doing the rounds of shelter turnovers that are mere PR stunts aimed at defusing the anger of Yolanda survivors,” said Dr. Efleda Bautista, chairperson of People Surge.
In a position paper submitted to the Senate Committee, People Surge cited recent studies by non-government organizations on the current state of rehabilitation in Eastern Visayas. Citing data from the independent think-tank Ibon Foundation, a total of 1,200,000 homes were destroyed or damaged.
There are still over 250,000 families or more than 1,300,000 people living in evacuation centers, tent cities, bunk houses, and settlements in ‘no-build zones.’ The national government was able to construct only 364 homes in Tanauan and Tacloban, Leyte.
They also cite the findings of the Center for Environmental Concerns Philippines covering upland, lowland, urban, and coastal ecosystems. A specific and serious shelter concern raised was the No Dwelling Zone (NDZ)
policy, which seeks to prohibit residential infrastructure within 40 meters from the coastline.
The survivors’ alliance called for a genuine pro-people reconstruction program. They want a housing program with ensured access to livelihood and social services, resiliency standards, and people’s control and participation.
They also demand that the No Dwelling Zone policy be scrapped.
In the same committee hearing, OPARR Undersecretary Leslie Cordero admitted that Tacloban residents will have to wait for three years before the National Government finishes the 14, 433 total number of housing needs for Tacloban alone.
No matter how well the National Government does its job, it will not be enough for Yolanda’s victims.
***
Readers who missed a column can access www.duckyparedes.com/blogs. This is updated daily. Your reactions are welcome at duckyparedes@gmail.com or you can send me a message through Twitter @diretsahan.
No comments:
Post a Comment