HOUSE independent bloc leader and Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez on Monday dared the Aquino administration to disregard political color and hasten the release of public funds for the long-term rehabilitation of Yolanda-stricken areas.
“There should be no selective release of funds. Equal allocation to help the Yolanda-hit areas must be exercised regardless of political color of local leaders. Government program should cover all the administration and opposition areas that have been devastated by Yolanda. I call for justness and fairness,” Romualdez, whose district was among the hardest hit of killer typhoon Yolanda, said.
Romualdez made the appeal after former Sen. Panfilo Lacson blamed Budget Sec. Florencio “Butch” Abad for the slow release of the P167.8 billion budget approved by President Benigno Aquino III for the rehabilitation of areas devastated by Yolanda nearly two years ago.
Earlier, United Nations special rapporteur Chaloka Beyani criticized the Aquino administration for not doing enough for those left homeless by Yolanda.
Romualdez stressed that LGUs should be consulted now in the rebuilding process almost two years after the super typhoon hit the Central Philippines.
He explained that LGUs know better what is good for their people than any other government agency.
“LGUs are not given enough role in the rebuilding efforts. I hope the government will recognize the devolution policy or LGUs’ empowerment in the decision-making because local officials know better what is good and best for them,” Romualdez said.
Earlier, Romualdez accused the Aquino administration of abject failure in providing the necessary funding sources in the national budget for the CRRP, causing the continued government’s dismal and snail-paced implementation of the rehabilitation process.
Romualdez lamented that the government is just looking for savings to support programs under CRRP, resulting to the downloading of only P47 billion out of the P167.9 billion committed funds for CRRP as of June 2015.
Romualdez lamented it was only last October 29, 2014 or almost a year when President Aquino finally approved the 8,000-page P167.9-billion Yolanda Comprehensive Rehabilitation and Recovery Plan that recommended by Lacson, then the Presidential Assistant for Rehabilitation and Recovery (PARR) secretary, aimed at providing the “build back better” for the resettlement, infrastructure, livelihood, and social services in 171 cities and municipalities ravaged by the powerful typhoon.