Binay supporters back Roxas on issue of relief and rehab funds

Vice President Jejomar Binay and Interior Secretary Manuel “Mar” Roxas II. INQUIRER FILE PHOTOS

ROXAS CITY, Capiz—Hounded by criticism of the slow pace of rehabilitation in places ravaged by Supertyphoon Yolanda, Interior Secretary Mar Roxas found unlikely defenders in two Iloilo mayors who supported his political archrival, Vice President Jejomar Binay, in the 2010 elections.

Roxas, who has been accused by Tacloban City Mayor Alfred Romualdez of politicking in implementing the government’s rehabilitation program, was warmly welcomed by his provincemates when he flew to his hometown on Wednesday.

Both Mayor Jesry Palmares of Passi City and Mayor Rene Cordero of Estancia, said they received much-needed help from the national government after violent winds brought by Yolanda (International name: Haiyan) flattened their towns even if they belonged to the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA), Binay’s political party.

Palmares and Cordero were among the local chief executives from Western Visayas who attended a consultative meeting held at the Capiz provincial capitol on Wednesday night.

Roxas, who presided over the gathering, was joined by Social Welfare Secretary Dinky Soliman, Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin and National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council Executive Director Alexander Pama.

In an interview with reporters after the meeting, the two mayors denied that typhoon-stricken towns whose mayors did not belong to the ruling Liberal Party did not get financial aid and food packs from the national government.

“Right after the typhoon, the (assistance) just came in rapidly. I don’t think there was politics,” Palmares said when asked if political affiliation was a factor in the distribution of assistance from the national government.

“I don’t believe that only (pro-administration mayors) were given financial assistance because I belong with UNA. I think it is fair enough to say that there was no politics. It’s not true,” he added.

He said the Department of the Interior and Local Government, through its Recovery Assistance on Yolanda (RAY) program, released a total of P18 million to Passi, which happens to be a “sister city” of Makati City, the political stronghold of the Binay family.

Cordero said Estancia, the worst-hit municipality in Iloilo province, received food packs and cash assistance within 24 hours after Yolanda barrelled through their town.

“All of us got financial assistance from the government. There was no political color as what others have been claiming,” he said.

Mayor John Tarrosa of Zarraga town in Iloilo said the delay in the release of financial aid from the national government may have been caused by the failure of some mayors to submit the required documents pertaining to the program of works for rehabilitation projects under RAY.