• RICHARD T. CABALLERO JR.
The P10 million financial assistance extended by the Office of the President to the town of La Castellana for rehabilitation purposes is still unused due to the processing of required documents.
La Castellana Mayor Anejo Nicor said in an interview that the municipal government is still waiting for the required documents to be completed before they can utilize the financial aid.
“Until now, we have not been able to use the funds because we are following the required processes. As of today, the P10 million is still with the Sangguniang Bayan (SB) for approval. After that, it will be sent to the Office of the President (OP). Only after these steps can the funds be used,” the mayor explained, citing the reason “to clearly state how the LGU intends to use the assistance provided by Malacañang.”
Nicor further said that they need to complete all the documents and submit them to the Malacañang for confirmation. After which, the palace will approve it, and that’s the time that the budget will be open for utilization.
“How the LGU will allocate the funds will depend on our planning—some may go to fuel assistance, some to road diversions, and others to food support. The LGU is not only focused on one type of aid; we want to help in all possible ways,” he added, vowing that every cent of the fund will be spent on the victims and for rehabilitation.
Vice Mayor Alme Rhummyla Mangilimutan had previously said that the majority of the P10 million fund will be spent to purchase a parcel of land for the relocation of typhoon victims who were situated in the no-build zone.
The mayor sought the victims’ patience and understanding on the delays of the relocation. He vowed a quick recovery of the town.
He further stressed that the P10,000 cash assistance for totally damaged houses and P5,000 for partially damaged ones will not come from the P10 million assistance but from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
“The P10,000 and P5,000 assistance is from DSWD, and your names are already listed in their database. So let us all wait patiently because that assistance is already intended for you,” he said to the recipients.
The Office of the President had extended P10 million in financial assistance to the City of La Carlota, the Municipality of La Castellana, and Moises Padilla. While P5 million each was given to Isabela, Hinigaran, and Binalbagan. All were intended to hasten recovery efforts after the devastating losses brought by Typhoon Tino.
The provincial government of Negros Occidental also received P50 million in recovery aid on top of the P45 million given to the mentioned LGUs.*
