The Province of Negros Oriental will not get a centavo from the P961 million earlier alloted by the national government for the dredging, rechanneling, and construction of river dikes damaged by tropical storm Sendong.
The Department of Budget and Management sent a “Negative SARO” dated June 29 which the Office of the Governor received last July 2, stopping Gov. Roel Degamo from touching the P480 million which had initially been released for the purpose.
The SARO (Special Allotment Release Order) notifies a local government unit when funds have been allotted for a specific project.
The SARO issued to the Province was for the amount of P961 million but the Notice of Cash Allocation said only P480 had so far been transferred to the provincial coffers.
An angry Governor Degamo railed against 1st Dist. Rep. Josy Limkaichong, a potential rival for the gubernatorial race next year, for causing the fund’s withdrawal.
Limkaichong told the MetroPost there was something irregular about the release of the fund because it did not follow certain guidelines for the release of large-scale funds for infrastructure projects.
But she denied having caused the withdrawal of the fund. “It is the Department of Budget and Management that ordered the withdrawal of the SARO, as well as the corresponding fund support until full compliance with the necessary DPWH requirements have been met. I do not have anything to do with it.”
Limkaichong said she shares in the urgency to repair the damaged infrastructure as these will be for the benefit of the people, but the release of funds shall not be at the expense of good governance values like transparency and proper processes.
She explained that projects worth at least P10 million require the approval of the Department of Public Works & Highways, especially infrastructure projects outside the DPWH regular infrastructure program.
Limkaichong pointed out that practically 90 percent of the calamity fund of P961,550,000 will go to dredging, channeling, and deepening of rivers.
She said she finds it appalling as she is reminded of the Mega Dike scam in Pampanga wherein the government then spent around P13 billion for dredging that had gone to waste.
“There are private sectors that are willing to extract the sand, gravel, and boulders at no cost to the government. So why spend almost a billion pesos when deepening of silted rivers can be for free?” she asked.
She also said dredging, channeling, and deepening of rivers are not sustainable programs. “If it is really to meet the needs of the Sendong victims, don’t you think we should put them in projects that will directly benefit the people… like homes for those who lost their houses, school buildings to solve the problem of lack of classrooms, and livelihood programs for the displaced victims?” she said.
The Congresswoman said other projects that could make use of the money are enhanced health facilities to meet the medical needs of the informal sectors, and restore and rehabilitate the damaged roads and bridges.
“It is my moral duty to speak up and stand for the best interest of the public. Let us not waste the funds. Let us not get carried away by public officials who profess to serve the public but in reality, are deceiving the people because of their vested interest.”
Degamo took exception to Limkaichong’s statement, saying the fund release went through a process, starting with a request he made to the Office of the President on Jan. 5. “The DPWH validated these projects which were also endorsed by the Office of Civil Defense, and approved by DPWH Director Canlas.”
This amount, Degamo said, should be released or this could tarnish the image of President Aquino. “He is President of the Philippines and Negros Oriental is part of the Philippines,” the Governor said.
Lawyer Arturo Umbac, provincial consultant for disaster relief & rehabilitation, who was with Governor Degamo last Tuesday, also expressed disappointment by the withdrawal of the river fund. “With this kind of governance, who needs disasters?” he said.
