Pangilinan wants to know real extent of ‘Odette’ damage, use ‘parked, unspent’ funds for aid

Senator Francis Pangilinan visits Bohol on Wednesday, December 29, 2021, for a relief mission. Photo from Pangilinan’s staff

MANILA, Philippines — Senator Francis Pangilinan is pushing for a Senate hearing to look into the true extent of damage caused by Typhoon Odette and to realign “parked or unspent” funds for further relief efforts in areas affected.

“Kinakailangan mag-realign ng pondo dahil malaki ang damage. Kailangan busisiin ng Senado kung paano maililipat ang ilang pondo na nariyan na para direktang makinabang ang mga tao. Marami pang unprogrammed funds,” he said in a statement Thursday.

On Wednesday, the senator went on a relief mission in Bohol, where over 100 people have been reported dead due to the super typhoon.

He also met with Bohol Governor Arthur Yap, Vice Governor Rene Relampagos, and Board Member Frans Garcia to determine other ways to help the province that is still reeling from Odette’s assault two weeks ago.

READ: Odette death toll in Bohol climbs to 107

Citing partial reports, Pangilinan said the typhoon partly or totally destroyed 192,000 homes in 27 of 47 towns in Bohol. Damage to residential properties alone, excluding damage to crops and livestock, cost about P10 billion, he also noted.

“In Bohol alone, the entire year’s P20-billion National Disaster Fund will be depleted. The damage in six regions is so extensive, the government must determine what amounts from the P1.4 trillion parked or unspent funds from the 2021 budget need to be realigned to augment the disaster fund,” he added.

Relampagos agreed with Pangilinan, noting that public works funds of three district engineering offices for infrastructure projects can instead be used to buy construction materials to build or repair houses in Bohol.

Pangilinan was also told that Bohol residents need GI sheets, nails, chain saw, and other construction materials.

“Immediate need ang trapal para may masilungan. Kami na ang bahala sa mga kahoy. Kailangan namin ng mga 10-20 chainsaws that can be picked up by our supply ship,”  Yap said.

Fuel supply

Meanwhile, Pangilinan called on oil companies to triple their supply to the province, where fuel supply continues to be a problem.

The senator also urged the private sector to help in repair works to restore power lines as many areas remain in darkness.

“We must deliver aid to our people at once, no community should be forgotten or ignored,” he said.

Relampagos said Typhoon Odette wiped out about 70 percent of crops and about 30 percent livestock and damaged 10 provincial hospitals.

Strengthen NDRRMC

Pangilinan, meanwhile, agreed with Yap’s suggestion for a government body, in coordination with the private sector, to be tasked to oversee and give a comprehensive picture of the situation in typhoon-hit areas and the ongoing relief and rehabilitation efforts.

The senator also said the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) must be strengthened.

“We have yet to see the whole picture of the devastation. We need this to know how to go about our relief efforts. We also need an inventory of the funds we have released so far, how much is still in the coffers, and how much is coming in from the private sector, including international donors,” Pangilinan added.

Further, the senator reiterated his call for the government to speed up repair works in the affected ports to normalize the flow of goods such as food, fuel, and building materials in the provinces.

He said truck-loads of relief items have been stuck in ports because of the unavailability of roll-on-roll-off vessels.

Pangilinan likewise called on the Department of Trade and Industry to step up its monitoring of compliance to price ceilings, amid reports of overpricing of fuel and other commodities.

KGA