Friday, April 8, 2016

Palace refutes senator’s claim on late release of El Niño mitigation funds


From the Website of the President


Palace refutes senator’s claim on late release of El Niño mitigation funds April 8, 2016
 
Malacañang has denied the allegation of Senator Alan Peter Cayetano that the funds to mitigate the effects of El Niño were released only last month.

In a statement issued on Thursday, Communication Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr. refuted Senator Cayetano’s claim that the late release of funds could have prevented the violent incident in Kidapawan City, North Cotabato that resulted in the death of three farmers on April 1.

Some 200 people, including policemen, were also injured when the police tried to disperse protesting farmers who have been barricading the Cotabato-Davao Highway since March 30. The farmers were asking the government for the release of rice subsidies and rehabilitation funds.

“Senator Cayetano’s allegation is untrue and unfounded. Since the creation of the Cabinet-level El Niño Task Force, funds and resources were deployed to mitigate the effects of El Niño and assure stable food and water supply,” Secretary Coloma said.

“The comprehensive Roadmap to Address the Impact of El Niño (RAIN) that was drawn up last August 2015 is still being implemented and fine-tuned to ensure that gaps in service delivery are addressed. Government is aware that the El Niño crisis affects the poorest and most vulnerable among our people and is firmly determined to see to it that our people’s needs are met in a timely manner,” he added.

Coloma said Budget Secretary Florencio Abad likewise belied Cayetano’s allegation.

“Wala pong katotohanan iyang paratang ni Senador Cayetano. Ang mga ahensya ay may kani-kanilang pondo para sa mga calamity at emergency requirements na nakalakip sa kanilang mga regular budgets. Dagdag pa rito, may mga quick response funds pa sila. Kabilang ang mga pondong ito sa comprehensive release na maaga pong natanggap ng mga ahensya. Kaya, halimbawa, November 2015 pa lang, may mga cash-for-work at food packs nang ipinamahagi ang DSWD (Department of Social Welfare and Development),” Coloma quoted Secretary Abad as saying.

The budget chief further said that local government units (LGUs) also distribute rice and food coming from their calamity funds.

“Ang mga LGUs, katulad ng provincial government ng North Cotabato, mayroon ding pinamamahaging bigas at pagkain mula sa kanilang calamity funds. At kung kukulangin pa ang lahat ng pondong ito, halos di pa po nagagalaw ang ating NDRRMC (National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council) fund at puwede pa itong pagkunan ng tulong para sa mga tinatamaan ng El Niño. Pakiusap lang: huwag isama sa pulitika ang kundisyon ng mga naghihirap nating mga kababayan,” said Abad.
The Philippine National Police is investigating the tragic incident.


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