Gov’t transparent enough in releasing rehabilitation funding reports, says Palace

Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma

MANILA — Malacañang on Tuesday appealed to the public for patience with the release of audit reports on the government’s relief and rehabilitation efforts in areas devastated by calamities.

Commenting on questions regarding certain audit findings, Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr. said during a press briefing that Social Welfare Secretary Dinky Soliman has explained the time difference between conducting the audit and carrying out the project.

Secretary Coloma said that at the time of the audit, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) was using funds the General Appropriations Act has allotted for calamities.

When those funds ran out, the DSWD began using funds from other sources, he said.

“Ang hihilingin lang natin dito ay ang pag-unawa na kapag mayroong naipahayag na mga audit findings, meron namang proseso para ipaliwanag ito ng mga tinutukoy na ahensiya at hindi naman pinapabayaan ang pag-uulat sa napapanahong paraan,” he said.

On the proposal to extend P70,000 to every family affected by Typhoon Yolanda to enable them to start a new life, Coloma said the government thinks this form of assistance is not the best way to help them.

“Makailang beses na itong ipinunto ng iba’t ibang pangkat at naalala ko na dito mismo ay sinagot ‘yan ni (Presidential Assistant for Rehabilitation and Recovery) Secretary (Panfilo) Lacson na hindi ito ang pinakamainam na paraan para tugunan ang sitwasyon,” he told reporters.

The Palace also gave assurance that the government will continue assisting families affected by Typhoon Yolanda.

“Kaya’t ginagawa ng pamahalaan lahat ng mga nararapat para isagawa ang rehabilitation at ang build back more resilient communities doon sa mga naapektuhang lugar,” he added.

The government, he said, has thoroughly assessed the situation and is implementing the Comprehensive Master Plan on Relief and Rehabilitation.