FILE PHOTO: Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero during the hybrid hearing on Tuesday, February 21, 2023. (Bibo Nueva España/Senate PRIB)
MANILA, Philippines — Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero on Wednesday urged the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) and the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (NDRRMC) to simplify the process of the release of disaster funds to local government units (LGUs) that need assistance following natural and man-made disasters.
During a Senate inquiry into the oil spill in Oriental Mindoro, Escudero emphasized the importance of immediately releasing financial aid to affected LGUs to help them cope with urgent situations.
“Something must be done on the part of the OCD-NDRRMC. You must be able to find a way to hasten your procedures insofar as giving assistance is concerned. Ang laki-laki ng pondo ninyo sa calamity fund, hindi naman nakakarating agad sa mga apektado dahil sa dami at hirap mag-comply sa mga requirements ninyo,” he said.
READ: PCG: Oil tanker off Oriental Mindoro now fully submerged, oil spill worsens
In a report presented in the hearing by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), the oil spill has so far affected a total of 23,005 families, or 108,162 people, in 118 barangays in Oriental Mindoro and Palawan and 8,387 families, or 30,226 people, in four barangays in Caluya in Antique.
The PCG also said the oil spill has affected more than 55 kilometers of coastline in Mindoro, Palawan, and Antique provinces.
OCD Deputy Administrator Bernardo Alejandro IV responded to Escudero’s call, saying the NDRRMC is currently reviewing Memorandum Circular 45 s. 2017, which contains guidelines for requesting calamity funds as well as its dispensation. The OCD official said the revised guidelines might be issued by April.
Escudero then pointed out that bureaucratic red tape cannot continue and that LGUs affected by the oil spill should not go through the same ordeal that Sorsogon went through when it was devastated by Typhoon Tisoy (international name: Kammuri) in December 2019.
READ: ‘Tisoy’ leaves 17 dead, isolates Bicol villages
According to him, Sorsogon received assistance from the calamity fund three years after. Escudero was governor of Sorsogon from June 2019-June 2022.
READ: ‘Tisoy’ sends 225,000 fleeing in 5 regions
The senator also requested the NDRRMC to include a retroactive clause in the revised memorandum circular to apply it to past disasters.
“This is a corrective memorandum circular, anyway. And legally, you can apply it retroactively, too, to previous and other claims filed or made by affected citizens and all local government units” Escudero said. —Meralyn Melitante, trainee
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