Malacañang said Tusday there is at least P26.18 billion available for relief and rehabilitation in areas devastated by super typhoon “Yolanda” while members of the House of Representatives said they are waiving some P12 billion of their pork barrel this year for the same purpose.
"We wish to assure the public that we’re already moving funds to address the urgent need for disaster relief in all typhoon-stricken areas," Budget Secretary Florencio Abad said.
The funds and their sources are:
P6.4 billion from the President's Social Fund
P16.6 billion in government savings
P1.08 billion in Quick Relief Funds
P1.28 billion in Calamity Funds
P824 million in Contingency Funds
"Because we only have two more months before the year concludes, however, the more costly rehabilitation requirements will be largely addressed through the 2014 budget," Abad said. "By then, fresh budgetary support will be available to aid all efforts at repairing the damage wrought by Yolanda to the Visayas region.”
“Nonetheless,” he added, “the more urgent post-disaster requirements -- such as the restoration of power, water, and other utilities in all affected communities, as well as the immediate provision of shelter, food, medical and rescue activities, and clearing operations -- will be amply supported by available funds."
At the House, Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. was joined by other leaders of the chamber and of political parties in filing House Resolution No. 07, which authorizes the executive department to realign the unspent portion of their Priority Development Assistance Fund to the national government’s calamity fund.
However, the amount is currently the subject of a temporary restraining order from the Supreme Court, which is hearing several petitions to declare the PDAF unconstitutional.
The petitions were filed following revelations that as much as P10 billion in the congressional pork barrel could have been embezzled in a conspiracy that involved lawmakers and other government officials allegedly colluding with businesswoman Janet Lim-Napoles.
"We have informed the Solicitor General to make representations with the Supreme Court that we are not interested (in the unreleased PDAF) anymore, provided the same is realigned by the executive to the calamity fund," Belmonte said at a news conference.
He said the estopped pork barrel would boost government’s ability to respond to the needs of Yolanda’s victims.
It could also help in the continued rehabilitation of Bohol and Cebu provinces, which bore the brunt of the 7.2-magnitude earthquake that struck Central Visayas last month.
"These disasters have caused massive loss of lives, as well as major damage to property, infrastructure, livelihood and agriculture, bringing much pain and suffering to the Filipino people," the House resolution said.
"Members of Congress express their desire to assist the victims of these disasters and help in the speedy post-disaster recovery, reconstruction and rehabilitation of the provinces affected by the disasters," it added.
Following the scandal triggered by the pork barrel scam, lawmakers removed the P25.2-billion appropriation for PDAF in the proposed 2014 budget and realigned the funds to six government agencies.
House members also pledged P10,000 each from their salaries and to mobilize relief teams at both the Batasan Pambansa and their respective districts, Belmonte said after emerging from a meeting with lawmakers.
The initiative was formalized in House Resolution 446, which will be signed by the 289 House members. They earlier adopted two similar resolutions for donations to the victims of the earthquake in Bohol and Cebu, and the families affected by the fighting in Zamboanga City.
At the same time, Belmonte said the House will support the realignment of certain items in the proposed 2014 budget for a P10-20 billion rehabilitation fund for areas ravaged by calamities.
He said this will be discussed when they sit down with senators in the bicameral conference committee meetings on the budget.
Belmonte called on his colleagues to organize their respective relief drives. "Difficult as the situation, this will really require self-help. Let's not be too dependent on Manila," he said.
Western Samar Representative Mel Senen Sarmiento said congressional districts can be used as staging points of relief going to the typhoon-hit areas.
He said lawmakers are prepared to help manage the packing and transport of goods that would pass through their districts.
For example, Sarmiento said that Surigao City can be a drop-off point going to Leyte.
Relief items may also be ferried from Cebu City to Ormoc, Leyte. Iloilo City can take care of goods to be transported to Aklan and Capiz, two other provinces affected by the typhoon.
source: interaksyon.com
