Governor to release P13-M assistance to typhoon victims, as national aid on hold due to ‘rules, requirements’

Negros Occidental Provincial Administrator, Atty. Rayfrando Diaz today said that Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson is set to release financial and material assistance to victims of Typhoon Odette this week.

Diaz said “we can’t wait”, referring to the aid from national government agencies which, while already available, cannot be released yet due to “rules and requirements” imposed by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).

He said that the provincial government will make use of the P13 million unutilized trust fund that will be realigned for the purpose.

He added that those with “totally damaged” houses will be prioritized.

The provincial government will release P5,000 cash and materials that would include 6 pieces of GI sheets and 2 pieces flat sheets, he said.

“This is on top of the P50 million emergency allocation approved by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan,” the provincial administrator said.

He also said that the P50 million was already utilized to purchase GI sheets and other materials. “We are just waiting for it.”

The provincial government resorted to utilize the P13 million because, he said, “while there are funds downloaded like the P41 million from the national treasury, there is no clear guidelines on how to disburse these in terms of recipients’ qualification, amount per recipient, and supporting documents.”

He added that “we are almost ready but the DBM issued Circular Nos. 140-141.”

Diaz said with the DBM circular, the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) “all of a sudden put on hold the distribution because they want to come up with a joint memorandum circular governing the release of those downloaded funds from the national treasury coming from the unappropropriated budget of the national government.”

He also said that the P90 million from the National Housing Authority (NHA) also has more requirements to comply with.

He added that while before a masterlist has to be submitted, now it has to be in a form that will conform to the request of NHA.

However, he said the masterlist of those totally and partially damaged houses has to be certified by the LGU and the barangay. “So this will take time,” Diaz said.

He further said that, “while the national government makes up its mind what procedure and rules to use, we can’t wait,” Diaz added.* (DSY)