No Yolanda release

Former Presidential Assistant for Rehabilitation and Recovery (PARR) Secretary Panfilo “Ping” Lacson said he found P350 billion in savings in the 2014 budget which was carried over to this year, but Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Secretary Florencio Abad has failed to release P80 billion approved for Yolanda rehabilitation.

“When I told Abad to be ready with the P80 billion this year, he told me he will look for ways to raise it. I insisted that he did not need to look for funds for it since there is P350 billion in savings available,” Lacson said.

“What I can’t understand is the funds were not released. There is a total of 205,000 housing units needed for the resettlement from hazard zones, for people to be relocated to safe zone,” the former czar said.

Lacson stated that only 2.5 percent has been accomplished. The P75 billion for resettlement has not been released.

Lacson blamed the DBM for releasing the funds in trickles during the last two years.

Lacson also complained that P80 billion for the Comprehensive Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Program (CRRP) was not included in the 2015 national budget. He was frustrated that budget for Yolanda rehabilitation was not included in the administration’s priority list, it’s not even in their consciousness. The reason why he was not surprised the President failed to mention Yolanda rehabilitation efforts during his last State of the Nation Address (SONA), clearly an indication that he had no intention of prioritizing the Yolanda reconstruction and rehabilitation program.

These claims of Lacson validate the report of United Nations Special Rapporteur, Dr. Chaloka Beyani, that the government efforts to rehabilitate the Yolanda- affected areas is inadequate.

Also to validate Beyani’s assessment, the Social Watch Group shared their findings earlier over their study on the Yolanda reconstruction plan – the plan was poorly implemented; the release of funds delayed; and the sources of funds, allocation and status of spending unclear.

Even if Malacañang disputed Beyani’s assessment on the state of rehabilitation efforts, Lacson agrees with his comprehensive report on Yolanda rehabilitation activities.

Lacson said that even after the UN suggested to speed up the rebuilding efforts for internally displaced persons (IDPs), the release of the funds remained in trickles.

Lacson recalled that he even pleaded with Abad to allocate budget for rehabilitating communities in Leyte and Samar during a budget call, which Abad eventually allocated only P1 billion for the rehabilitation.

Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) and some critics expressed alarm over the possible use of Typhoon Yolanda funds for the May 2016 polls.

It is probably not impossible, since there is a lack of transparency with specific amount for each of the Yolanda programs in the list.

With the necessary budget, the President should designate a person that has technical and administrative competence to implement the CRRP and other reconstruction efforts.

More food poisoning

Seventy persons were hospitalized in Ligao City, Albay after eating pancit palabok at a birthday party.

Twenty persons were hospitalized in Tiboli, South Cotabato after eating pancit bihon guisado.

Nineteen persons were hospitalized after eating in a buffet in Pampanga.

Meanwhile, after a series of tests on the 50-gram rice sample from Davao City, Food Security Secretary Francis Pangilinan announced the rice is not fake, but contaminated with a plasticizer chemical compound, an isolated case which may have been the result of mishandling. The National Food Authority (NFA) assured there is no fake rice in the Philippines so far.

David protest vs Poe

Ang Kapatiran Party 2013 senatorial candidate Lito David has filed an electoral protest before the Senate Electoral Tribunal seeking to disqualify Senator Grace Poe as a senator, for not being a natural born Filipino citizen and lacks the required number of years of residency in the Philippines when she filed her certificate of candidacy in the 2013 senatorial elections. His party mates raised P50,000 required filing fee. Senator Poe welcomed the protest as she would be able to answer the allegations against her. But she reiterated that she is a Filipino and a resident of the Philippines.

Meanwhile, various political groups, as well as party mates of former senator Richard “Dick” Gordon, are convincing him to file a separate disqualification petition against Senator Poe since he is next line if she is disqualified. But the former senator stressed that he is not opportunistic. He said that it is up to Poe to prove she has followed the law and deserves to stay in the Senate.

Tidbits

Secretary Leila de Lima has finally filed the third batch of charges in connection with Napoles PDAF-related scam.

Vice President Jejomar “Jojo” Binay visited President Aquino’s home province of Tarlac. He was welcomed by former Congressman Peping Cojuangco, the President’s uncle in Gerona Town.

Floods have hit Iloilo City, Bukidnon, Maguindanao and General Santos.

Senator Bongbong Marcos said there is no guarantee of the Basic Bangsamoro Law (BBL) passage during President Aquino’s term.

New People’s Army (NPA) rebels raided a banana plantation in Tampakan, South Cotabato, killing a security guard and wounding five soldiers.