SENATE Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel III has scored Housing Secretary Rizalino Jose Acuzar for alleged failure to provide help to victims of typhoons, fire and other calamities.
Pimentel said if the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) cannot do its job, Acuzar should relegate it to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
During the hearing on the DHSUD budget for next year, Acuzar said they have moved the task of assisting calamity victims to the DSWD, but it was returned back to his department.
Pimentel vowed to raise the issue in the DSWD budget hearing.
Conceding that they have failed in their Integrated Disaster Shelter Assistance Program, Acuzar promised to improve their services on the matter.
In the sane hearing, Housing Undersecretary Rey Escolango reported that out of the P200-million budget for the program, only P8.8 million had been utilized.
The senators lamented that the funds could have been used by thousands of people affected by calamities.
Escolango admitted they have been slow in using their funds as they were being very wary with the Commission on Audit (COA).
With regards to Pimentel’s request, Escolango will still coordinate it with the local government unit.
Las March, Pimentel asked the DHSUD for help to fire victims in Tumana, Marikina. He charged that no help came although the department has allocation for this program.
He assailed the snail-paced action of the DSHUD in stark contrast to the swift moves from the DSWD.
