Delays seen in release of Yolanda funds

MANILA, Philippines – Funding for the reconstruction and rehabilitation of Yolanda-affected areas is not a problem, but delays in its release are expected.

Three years since the devastation left by Yolanda, the government has so far released P115.39 billion from 2013 to October this year.

The figure accounted for 80 percent of the estimated P149.82 billion needed to reconstruct and rehabilitate areas damaged by the super typhoon.

That may look impressive, except that when broken down by year, only P9.84 billion or just 22.2 percent of the P44.27-billion allocation for 2016 had been transferred to agencies and local government units (LGUs).

Allotment release means agencies and LGUs may have entered into contracts for services, after which they may use the funds.

This means how fast the money is disbursed will depend on line agencies.

The STAR tried to contact Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno and his predecessor, Florencio Abad, for comment, but they did not respond.

Other budget officials refused to comment, while queries sent to the DBM public information office have not been answered.

The government released P41.91 billion for Yolanda rehabilitation last year, P36.72 billion in 2014 and P26.92 billion immediately after the typhoon in 2013.

Yolanda, the strongest typhoon to have ever hit land, left 6,293 people dead and P40-billion damage to infrastructure and agriculture.

By agency, the Department of Social Welfare and Development got the bulk of the funding, receiving P30.95 billion during the four-year period.

It was followed by the National Housing Authority with P39.46 billion and the Departments of Education, P5.72 billion; Interior and Local Government, P5.22 billion, and Public Works and Highways, P5.15 billion.