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[av_heading heading=’P67B for ‘Yolanda’ rehab in East Visayas in 4 years’ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=’30’ subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’18’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=” av-medium-font-size-title=” av-small-font-size-title=” av-mini-font-size-title=” av-medium-font-size=” av-small-font-size=” av-mini-font-size=” admin_preview_bg=”][/av_heading]
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Friday, February 23, 2018
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TACLOBAN City – In four years, the government released P67.1 billion for the rehabilitation of areas in Eastern Visayas ravaged by super typhoon “Yolanda,” the Department of Budget and Management said.
Of the amount given out from 2013 to 2017, P44.6 billion was a direct release to central office but implemented in Eastern Visayas while P22.1 billion was directly downloaded to field offices in the region, DBM regional director Imelda Laceras said.
“The amount represents 45.94 percent of total P146.2 billion releases for ‘Yolanda’-affected areas in central Philippines,” Laceras said.
But the DBM had no figures showing how much funds were spent in more than four years of rehabilitation works and how much unspent budget were reverted to the National Treasury.
Most of the funds were downloaded through national government agencies (P41.88 billion), government-owned and -controlled corporations (P24.83 billion) and other executive offices (P405.43 million).
The National Housing Authority got the highest outlay among all agencies with P21.92 billion.
The agency was tasked to build 56,140 permanent houses for “Yolanda” survivors in six provinces. Of the target, only 18,543 have been completed as of Jan. 31 this year.
Laceras believes that huge unspent funds have been returned to the national government due to various project implementation issues.
“Many backlogs of government are releases on ’Yolanda’ rehabilitation,” she said. “To address this, we went around the region to conduct trainings for officials involved in procurement.”
In a regional briefing for provincial grassroots consultation in the Yolanda Corridor – Region 8 meeting at the National Economic and Development Authority regional office, Presidential Assistant Wendel Avisado asked officials to find out how much funds were returned to the national coffers.
“We will push for the reallocation of funds and include these in the future General Appropriations Act,” said Avisado, the official President Rodrigo Duterte tasked to oversee “Yolanda” rehabilitation efforts.
“Affected communities still has many needs, and this money is intended for typhoon survivors, as originally approved,” he added.
An unspent budget must be returned to the National Treasury if not used within two years after appropriation.
In the next two months, the Office of the President will hold consultations in five Eastern Visayas provinces pummeled by “Yolanda” to appraise the public on government-led recovery efforts and hear the concerns of beneficiaries.
One of such consultations was recently held in Western Visayas.
“Yolanda” unleashed its wrath in central Philippines on Nov. 8, 2013, killing around 6,300 people and leaving more than 4.4 million people displaced and homeless.
Tacloban City, the regional hub of Eastern Visayas, was considered the “Yolanda” ground zero. (PNA)
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