Senate to prioritize P10-B Visayan Rehabilitation Fund

MANILA, Philippines - The Senate will prioritize next week the proposal to realign some portions of the 2014 budget to be able to raise P10-billion for the Visayan Rehabilitation Fund, which will be used for the repair of infrastructure destroyed by super typhoon Yolanda and the 7.2-magnitude earthquake that devastated the region.

With the aftermath of the strong typhoon Yolanda in the Visayas, Sen. Grace Poe said on Wednesday that senators cannot be insensitive on what is happening in Tacloban.

Poe said they are discussing next week the possible items under the 2014 budget that can be tapped to augment the proposed Visayan Rehabilitation Fund.

The amount will be “over and above” the amount pertaining to the Priority Development Assistance Fund, totaling to about P26-billion a year for senators and congressmen.

“This (Visayan Rehab Fund) will be discussed in plenary setting on Monday,” Poe said. Congress will resume on November 18 after a two week break.

Poe reiterated that she has personally advocated for the abolition of the PDAF.

Senate President Franklin Drilon early on sought the creation of the special fund, amounting to about P 10-billion, in the proposed 2014 budget to be used for victims of the recent calamities.

Sen. Francis Escudero, chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance, revealed that he and his team are coordinating with the different government agencies to look into their respective budgets that can be diverted to a separate fund for the rehabilitation efforts.

Sen. Vicente Sotto III expressed belief that the Senate can identify the budget to be realigned for calamity funds without too much fanfare and media hype.

The deputy minority leader added that the calamity funds can be programmed through the budget itself because of the cuts Congress will be making.

“There is no need for senators to even seek for credits on this. We don’t need to get credits for it,” Sotto said.

Call for gov't audit of foreign aid

Some senators also batted for the need to ensure that the foreign aid be subjected to proper audit.

“Considering na may substantial amount ng foreign aid na binigay sa atin, pabor ako sa transparency at accountability sa paggamit nito,” said Sen. Nancy Binay.

Sen. Ralph Recto said the Commission on Audit (COA) is tasked to audit the donations from other countries for the rehabilitation of the areas affected by typhoon Yolanda.

“What is subject to CoA is how taxes and donations [become public funds when given to government] are spent by the government," he said.

Recto pointed out, however, that donations to the private sector and how they spend it is not subject to government audit.

Poe stressed that the foreign donations for calamity acquire the nature of public funds and are usually given to Department of Social Welfare and Development and the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.

“It is put in a special account and subject to CoA audit. It must only be spent for the purpose it was donated for," she said. "So, if the donations now are for typhoon Yolanda victims, they may only be used for that purpose and may not be realigned for Bohol or succeeding calamity."

Escudero and Poe cited Article IX [Section 2 (1)], which provides that the CoA has the duty to audit accounts pertaining to receipts held in trust by government.

But donations to the Philippine Red Cross and other civic groups are not subject to CoA, Poe pointed out.

Senate raise P300K funds to relief efforts

Meanwhile, Senate employees have raised P307,550 as of 2:20 p.m. Wednesday in their drive to help the victims of the super typhoon.

Senate Secretary Oscar Yabes said the amount will be turned over to the Philippine National Red Cross. Other relief goods such as food, water and clothing will also be brought to the PNRC.

About 110 employees have also volunteered to help in the repacking of relief goods at the Department of Social Welfare and Development National Operations Office along Chapel Road in Pasay City.