Miriam wants gov’t rehab spendings posted on Internet

10/18/2009

Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago has called for measures to ensure the transparency of government spending on recovery efforts after tropical storm “Ondoy” and typhoon “Pepeng.”

“The government must assure the public that the funds will not be lost to corruption or to the 2010 elections but will really be spent for rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts,” the lawmaker, in a statement, stressed.

The Senate and the House of Representatives recently approved a P12-billion supplemental budget for emergency relief operations, rehabilitation and reconstruction works and services in areas affected by

Typhoons Frank, Ondoy and Pepeng.

Recently, President Arroyo approved the creation of a special reconstruction commission that would raise funds and undertake long-term reconstruction of disaster-hit areas in the country.

Santiago said the government can create a Web site, which will post breakdowns of funds spent by regions and districts, and for what purposes.

“The Web site can also track the foreign aid and local donations we receive, and their releases.”

She added the Philippine Information Agency, the official information arm of the government, should formulate resourceful and cost-effective ways to inform the public on the disbursement of the government funds for the calamities.

“And no TV and radio infomercials please,” she stressed.

Assistance from the international community for victims of recent typhoons in the country has reached $103.31 million (estimated at P4.8 billion), as of Oct. 17, according to the Department of Foreign Affairs.

A significant portion of the contributions, about $76.03 million, or P3.53 billion, came from international organizations, including the United Nations Development Program, the United Nations Children’s Fund, the World Food Program and the World Health Organization.

Donations from bilateral and multilateral/regional partners of the Philippines reached $21.70 million (or P1 billion) and $3.64 million (or P169.53 million), respectively.

Other sources and their contributions are non-government organizations at $1.06 million (or P49.3 million), Filipino communities with $395,659 (or P18.4 million), individual donations with $22,569 (or P1.05 million), DFA personnel at foreign posts $18,114 (or P842,301),and private individuals with $22,569 (or P1.05 million), and others with $434,343 (or P20.2 million).

Philippine bilateral partners that donated in cash or in kind include Australia, Singapore, the United States, Japan, China, Canada, Italy, South Korea, Thailand, Germany, Switzerland, New Zealand, Brunei Darussalam, Bahrain, Sweden, Brazil, Norway, Spain, United Kingdom and Great Britain, the Czech Republic.

Also, cumulative donations, both in cash and kind, for “Oplan Sagip Bayan” reached P73.9 million as Oct. 16.

Since it started operations last month after the onslaught of Ondoy, the Malacañang-initiated relief operation has benefited 274,268 families.

Relatedly, Santiago is pushing a P50-million fine on real estate developers who fill, cover, or block any part of a river, creek, brook, spring, lake, lagoon, swamp, marsh and similar waterways in order to put up a housing, condominium, or leisure estate development.

Also, the senator wants government permits for the development to be revoked.

with a report from PNA

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