SENATE OKs USE OF P12-B UNPROGRAMMED FUNDS FOR REHAB
MANILA, OCTOBER 15, 2009 (STAR) The Senate unanimously approved yesterday Joint Resolution 48 authorizing the use of unprogrammed funds for rehabilitation and reconstruction of areas affected by typhoons.Those who voted in favor of the resolution were Senators Edgardo Angara, Benigno Aquino III, Joker Arroyo, Alan Peter Cayetano, Pia Cayetano, Miriam Defensor-Santiago, Jinggoy Estrada, Francis Escudero, Gregorio Honasan, Panfilo Lacson, Lito Lapid, Loren Legarda, Jamby Madrigal, Aquilino Pimentel Jr., Bong Revilla, Manuel Villar, Richard Gordon, and Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile.
Enrile lauded the passage of the “bipartisan measure” after it was debated extensively by senators.
Angara reported the passage of the measure, which “expresses the empathy and sympathy of our colleagues to the plight of our people.”
In a massive show of support, all the senators held a press conference after the passage of the measure.
“The amount budgeted is P12 billion. In order to dispel any doubt that this money will be dissipated by those who will use it, the Senate has created an oversight (committee) to ensure that the fund will be spent wisely by the people who need it most,” Enrile said.
Angara said the P12 billion would not entirely cover the damage wrought by the past three typhoons, noting that the agriculture sector alone suffered losses of P18 billion.
“There is no amount of money to compensate for the loss of lives, property and agricultural production,” Angara said, adding “this will be a very valuable help to the Filipino people.”
About seven million Filipinos were adversely affected by the three typhoons, which Angara described as nothing compared to the super typhoon that happened in August 1971 before martial law.
Angara said the joint resolution becomes effective upon concurrence of both houses.
The main source of the P12 billion will be from the proceeds of the Malampaya natural gas project.
Enrile and Angara explained that before the budget is released to a department, a formal request for funding should be submitted where the details of the project are provided.
Since the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) is tasked as the major implementor of the fund, the request will first come from line agencies to be submitted to the NDCC, which will bring the request to the Department of Budget and Management.
Teodoro urged to resign
During the period of amendments, Senate Minority Leader Pimentel urged Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro to resign as chairman of the NDCC once the P12-billion appropriation is approved.
But Pimentel withdrew his call to include in the amendments the need for Teodoro to resign after his concerns were addressed.
During the break, Teodoro assured Pimentel that he would be out of the NDCC even before the funds are released.
“We want to make sure that the head of the NDCC is not a presidentiable… otherwise, we are endorsing him already to the highest position in the land,” Pimentel said during the debates.
Angara noted that Teodoro has expressed intention to leave his post after he announced his bid.
The finance committee chairman noted that Teodoro still has up to Nov. 30 to file his candidacy.
“We just want to send a neutral message to our people that this worthy bill will be executed and implemented by somebody who is not entertaining (presidential ambition) like Mr. Teodoro,” Pimentel said.
Safeguards
The Senate also approved the amendment proposed by Sen. Francis Pangilinan to provide a monthly report to the oversight committee for every amount, including the details of the allocation.
The senators agreed that the project and its status would also be included in the report to be covered by the guidelines formulated by the Oversight Committee.
They also directed all line agencies involved in the use and implementation of the funds to post in their websites their projects and expenses.
Before this, Aquino asked why the damages in 2007 and 2008 were not covered by the calamity fund in 2009.
“You have the standby called the calamity fund meant to address the needs of the people once a calamity comes… (now) we have a situation where the fund was depleted,” Aquino said.
Angara explained that the fund was used in rehabilitation of areas damaged by previous typhoons. “We need to act like we are doing now,” Angara said.
“That’s the question of management of public funds, not wise to keep P2 billion in the treasury and not employ it,” Angara said, adding that otherwise the funds become “meaningless.” – Christina Mendez
Spanish government turns over P14 million for flood victims (The Philippine Star) Updated October 15, 2009 12:00 AM
MANILA, Philippines - Declaring that Filipinos are not only friends but also well-loved brothers and sisters, the Spanish government turned over P14 million in food and non-food items to the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
Spanish Ambassador to the Philippines Luis Arias Romero handed over to Defense Secretary and NDCC chair Gilbert Teodoro Jr. a box containing non-food items for victims of storm “Ondoy” and typhoon “Pepeng” in turnover rites at the DSWD warehouse in Pasay City yesterday afternoon.
Romero said the items were part of the 3.5 million euros his government is donating to typhoon victims.
Social Welfare Secretary Esperanza Cabral received the donations such as mats, blankets, canned goods, medicine, and bottled drinking water.
“In behalf of the Philippine government, I would like to thank the Spanish government for helping us at a time when we need it most,” Teodoro said.
A Russian cargo plane chartered by the Spanish government was also due to land at Clark Field in Pampanga last night with tons of relief goods for distribution to the victims of Pepeng in Northern Luzon. The goods will be turned over to the DSWD, the Philippine National Red Cross, and the non-government organization Group Accion Contre el Hambre.
Before this, the Spanish government brought in relief goods for Ondoy’s victims in Metro Manila through another chartered Russian cargo plane.
“These donations coming from the Spanish government are outside of the foreign donations that we already have as a result of our flash appeal for help made before the United Nations,” Teodoro said.
He also turned over to Cabral P20 million in cash for the typhoon victims from Cebu Gov. Gwen Garcia.
Teodoro flew to Cebu the other day to personally receive the cash donation from Garcia.
Spanish aid agency official
Spanish Agency for International Cooperation and Development (AECID) general coordinator Lorea Uribarri is expected to visit the Philippines next week to work out a plan for the reconstruction of areas devastated by the typhoons.
“Spanish authorities are committed to support the Philippine government not only to alleviate the immediate effects on typhoon victims, but to work out a plan for the reconstruction of the stricken areas,” the Spanish embassy said. – Jaime Laude, Pia Lee-Brago
Chief News Editor: Sol Jose Vanzi
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