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PRESIDENT Arroyo has approved the release of P500
million each to the National Irrigation Administration
(NIA) and the National Electrification Administration (NEA)
for the repair and rehabilitation of typhoon-damaged
irrigation systems and distribution lines, respectively,
nationwide.
Palace
officials quickly doused speculation these were part of
the administration’s bid to curry goodwill during the
election campaign period.
“Election or no election, those (funds) have to be
released because they are part of our repair,
rehabilitation and reconstruction for our
infrastructure,” said Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita.
The fund
releases cover irrigation systems damaged by
supertyphoons Milenyo, Paeng, Reming and Seniang last
year in Regions 1, 2, 3, 4-A, 4-B, 5, 6, 8, 9, 11, 12
and the Cordillera Administrative Region; and
distribution lines in Regions 3, 4-A, 4-B, 5, 6 and 8.
The fund
releases, recommended by Defense Secretary Hermogenes
Ebdane Jr as chairman of the National Disaster
Coordinating Council (NDCC), will be charged against the
Calamity Assistance and Rehabilitation Effort (Care)
provided in the General Appropriations Act of 2007.
Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said in a memorandum
to Ebdane the disbursements shall be subject to
availability of funds, provisions of the Omnibus
Election Code, and other budgeting, accounting and
auditing rules and regulations.
The
President earlier approved the release of P300 million
to the Deparment of Health for the rehabilitation or
reconstruction, and replacement of equipment in
typhoon-damaged government hospitals in Regions 2, 3,
4-A, 4-B, 5, 6, 7, 8, the National Capital Region, and
the Cordillera Administrative Region. --M.
Gonzalez |
