26 May 2007
LEGAZPI CITY—THE DELAYED release of calamity funds intended for Albay through the general appropriations bill by Congress is hampering the rehabilitation of damaged facilities and relocation of displaced storm survivors, Albay Gov. Fernando Gonzalez yesterday said.
The funds yet to be released are the P160-million local government unit (LGU) fund and the P500-million resettlement fund. These are part of the government’s P10-billion Calamity Assistance, Rehabilitation Effort (Care) program.
Gonzalez said they were supposed to fast-track rehabilitation and relocation, especially now that the rainy season is coming but the provincial government’s plans were put on hold until the funds are released.
“I cannot anymore say what’s going on in this government. The President said the funds for the LGUs have to be prioritized. But where are the much-needed funds now?” Gonzalez said.
Gonzalez said funds were urgently needed for the relocation of about 2,800 families still living in transit shelters. They have been living in tents and makeshift shelters since December.
He said the provincial government has bought lands in Camalig and Anislag but the National Housing Authority (NHA) has yet to develop them.
The NHA resettlement plan was allocated P526.6 million for acquisition of 137 hectares of land and construction of housing units.
Rebecca Olayon, DBM-Bicol director, said the funds that have been released were only those for Catanduanes—P25 million; the repair of Department of Health-run hospitals—P129.5 million, and for the repair of state universities and colleges (SUCs)—P276.4 million.
Olayon said she also wondered what caused the delay and that they only waited for instructions from the DBM central office.
The general appropriations bill was signed by President Macapagal-Arroyo on March 22 and took effect on April 8. The Care fund was exempted from the election ban.
Under the act, the heavily damaged areas, which were mainly in the Bicol region, were allocated bigger funds by the National Disaster Coordinating Council based on proposals submitted by line agencies and LGUs.
The sharing of the P10-billion Care fund was: Department of Agriculture, P1 billion; agrarian reform, P500 million; energy, P500 million; health, P300 million; social welfare and development, P750 million; national defense, P1.3 billion; public works and highways, P2 billion; state colleges and universities, P400 million; NHA, P750 million; LGUs, P500 million; and repair of school buildings, P2 billion.
Supertyphoon “Reming” triggered lahar from Mt. Mayon which caused the deaths of more than a thousand people and displaced more than 258,962 families.
It damaged P5.5 billion worth of crops and roads and bridges. Ephraim Aguilar, Inquirer Southern Luzon
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