TACLOBAN CITY, Philippines -- The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has not received the funds needed for the rehabilitation of public infrastructure damaged by storm Ondoy (international name: Ketsana) and typhoon Pepeng (international name: Parma).

The massive rehabilitation of bridges and roads would need more than P4.2 billion but "no single peso has been released so far," said Public Works Secretary Victor Domingo in a press conference here Saturday.

Domingo said the amount was "simply huge" for the cash-strapped national government.

Domingo said he has been waiting for the release of the P6 billion set aside for the DPWH?s maintenance and operating expenses so that part of the amount could be used for typhoon rehabilitation in Luzon.

Domingo said that out of the P6 billion, only half could be used for repair works as the other half had been identified to pay for other obligations.

Domingo said he also made a personal appeal to the members of the Senate and House of Representatives to do their share by giving up a portion of their economic development fund in raising needed funds for the rehabilitation effort.

Domingo, who once served as a presidential assistant for Eastern Visayas, estimated that if all congressmen and senators would heed his appeal, the national government could raise at least P4.4 billion.

Domingo, however, said that only a few members of Congress appeared to have heeded his appeal, mentioning the likes of Representatives Mauricio Domogan of Baguio, Conrado Estrella of Pangasinan and Eric Singson of Ilocos Sur.

The three solons are from areas hit by the two typhoons that struck last month.

But with elections due in May 2010, it appeared that most congressmen would prefer to spend their economic development funds for their respective bailiwicks, he noted.

"Well, it?s election time. I understand why some of our congressmen and senators appear not to be keen on heeding our appeal," he said.