UK official to aid donors: “Stop misleading people, deliver what you promise”

TACLOBAN CITY, Philippines – Lord Jack McConnell, a member of the United Kingdom House of Lords, assailed the alleged abuse in raising funds using the Yolanda victims as the reason.

“Stop misleading people, deliver what you promise,” said McConnell as he slammed fund-raising drives by non-government organizations, here and abroad, purportedly for super typhoon Yolanda victims, but allegedly without reaching the intended beneficiaries.

McConnell, who was in this city this week to check on the assistance given by the UK government and by the foundation he organized last year to help Yolanda victims, told the local media of his aspersion over the abuse of funds.

The UK official, also a former First Minister of Scotland, also called for transparency in the handling of money that gets into the coffers of the government and the NGOs from fund-raising activities.

The money raised should be given to the typhoon victims, otherwise this would stall the recovery efforts in Yolanda-devastated areas, he said, as he also lashed out on the alleged intervention of politics in the delivery of assistance to the calamity victims.

“It is easy for those in power to forget. The determination needs to be shown by the government,” said the official who is now an eminent volunteer for Free Trade Alliance, one of civil society organizations that is pushing for Beyond 2015 International Initiative, which is set to replace the Millennium Development Goals that will end this year.

McConnell had emphasized on “funding management” and “determination” as the key factors in the success of his advocacy on poverty reduction and equality, climate justice and resilience and north-south solidarity with peaceful resolution to conflicts.

In a related development, EcoWeb executive Nanette Anteguisa appealed to the media for cooperation in addressing the issues raised by McConnell and the latter’s advocacies incorporated in Beyond 2015 goals.

In line with this global economic pursuit, Anteguisa said the media could help convey the proper information and message to people in the Philippines and abroad. (FREEMAN)