‘Wrong to fault Mar for Yolanda housing’

Interior Secretary Manuel “Mar” Roxas II.  INQUIRER.net FILE PHOTO

The Department of the Interior and Local Government on Saturday disputed reports that Secretary Mar Roxas had avoided answering questions about the government’s housing program for the victims of Supertyphoon “Yolanda” during his recent visit to Iloilo and Bacolod cities.

Roxas’ allies in the ruling Liberal Party also came to his defense, saying it was wrong to fault Roxas, the LP presidential candidate in 2016, for the controversies surrounding the emergency shelter assistance (ESA) program.

The DILG stressed that the ESA was a program directly under supervision of the Department of Social Welfare and Development, as Roxas had pointed out in an ambush interview with Iloilo-based reporters.

“[Roxas] has never evaded questions on assistance [to victims of Yolanda]. In fact, he has spoken and given interviews in the past regarding Yolanda-related assistance and answered questions on issues under his watch,” the DILG said.

It said the department was specifically tasked with overseeing the rehabilitation of public markets, town halls and civic centers damaged by the strongest typhoon ever to hit land.

Almost complete

The DILG said the projects were now 94.5-percent complete while the rest of the rehabilitation work was expected to be finished within the year.

“That’s 281 out of 309 civic centers, municipal halls and public markets repaired,” the DILG said.

Roxas tendered his resignation following President Benigno Aquino III’s endorsement of his presidential bid on July 31, but was he asked by Mr. Aquino to stay put pending the appointment of his successor.

In a text message, Quezon City Rep. Kit Belmonte said he was with Roxas when he visited Western Visayas a few days ago.

Belmonte said he thought it was inappropriate of members of the media to ask Roxas about the ESA when it was not under his department.

He also asked the media to be circumspect in writing about matters of national concern, pointing out that even the ABS-CBN reporter who asked Roxas about issues regarding the ESA admitted that the shelter program was a DSWD project.

READ: Roxas evasive on ‘Yolanda’ queries

“It really amazes me how simple words and straightforward circumstances can be spun. In the interest of fair play, I humbly request that my statement be published,” Belmonte said.

“I think it was unfair that he was asked questions on projects that were not his turf,” he said.

“It would have been improper for him to comment on a matter that was outside his mandate,” Belmonte said.

Akbayan party-list Rep. Ibarra Gutierrez described as “plainly ridiculous” the allegations that Roxas tried to dodge Yolanda-related questions because he was careful not to jeopardize his presidential bid.

“Just last weekend, [Roxas] stood firmly for the rule of law on the INC (Iglesia Ni Cristo) issue despite the possible adverse effect on his candidacy while politicians like [Vice President Jejomar] Binay and Senators [Grace] Poe, [Francis] Escudero and [Ferdinand] Marcos issued statements pandering shamelessly to the group,” Gutierrez said.

“The simple fact is the ESA is under [the] DSWD. The reporter clearly knew this, but proceeded to ask the question anyway. We’re all free to speculate as to why,” he said.

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