Cayetano claim on El Niño fund release ‘untrue, unfounded’–Palace

Malacañang on Thursday described as “untrue and unfounded” the allegations of Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano that the government released its El Niño funds only last month.

“Senator Cayetano’s allegation is untrue and unfounded.  Since the creation of the Cabinet-level El Niño Task Force, funds and resources were deployed to mitigate the effects of El Niño and assure stable food and water supply,” Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said in a statement.

Coloma said “the comprehensive Roadmap to Address the Impact of El Niño (Rain) that was drawn up last August 2015 is still being implemented and fine-tuned to ensure that gaps in service delivery are addressed.”

“Government is aware that the El Niño crisis affects the poorest and most vulnerable among our people and is firmly determined to see to it that our people’s needs are met in a timely manner,” he said.

Budget Secretary Florencio “Butch” Abad urged politicians not to use the condition of the poor to advance their political agenda.

“Pakiusap lang: Huwag isama sa pulitika ang kundisyon ng mga naghihirap nating mga kababayan,” Abad said in a statement.

He belied the allegations of Cayetano, saying each government agency had a calamity and emergency fund.

“Wala pong katotohanan iyang paratang ni Senador Cayetano.  Ang mga ahensya ay may kani-kanilang pondo para sa mga calamity at emergency requirements na nakalakip sa kanilang mga regular budgets,” he said.

He added that each government agency had a quick response fund.

“Kabilang ang mga pondong ito sa comprehensive release na maaga pong natanggap ng mga ahensya.  Kaya, halimbawa, November 2015 pa lang, may mga cash-for-work at food packs nang ipinamahagi ang DSWD,” he said.

“Ang mga LGUs, katulad ng provincial government ng North Cotabato, mayroon ding pinamamahaging bigas at pagkain mula sa kanilang calamity funds. At kung kukulangin pa ang lahat ng pondong ito, halos di pa po nagagalaw ang ating NDRRMC fund at puwede pa itong pagkunan ng tulong para sa mga tinatamaan ng El Niño,” he added.

On Thursday, the Senate committee on justice and human rights held a hearing at University of Southeastern Philippines in Davao City to shed light on the bloody police dispersal in Kidapawan City on April 1. RC