DILG liquidated 85% of P4.05 billion to rehabilitate areas devastated by Yolanda

July 5, 2019

The Department of Interior and Local Government ( DILG) on Friday said they liquidated 85 percent of  P4.055 billion funds to rehabilitate areas devastated by the 2013  Yolanda super typhoon. 

DILG Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya, in a press conference, said the P1.059 billion unliquidated funds stated in the Commission on Audit report only covered up to December 2018.

"The COA report was a yearend report of December 31, 2018. So I'm pleased to report that as of today, 85 percent or P3.455 billion of the total P4.055 billion under the recovery assistance for Yolanda have been liquidated by the concerned local government units (LGUs) and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)," said Malaya.

"From January to June this year, there has been significant implementation of the project that was not captured by the December 31 cutoff," he said.

He said that even if the funds were given to the DILG, they gave it to the DPWH and LGUs as they are in-charge of the projects in Yolanda-affected areas. This is also for faster expenditure of the funds, added Malaya.

"So the remaining 15 percent or the P600.67 million remains unliquidated as of July 4, 2019 as these projects are currently ongoing or being implemented by the LGUs," said Malaya.

He said the DILG is closely monitoring these projects.

"In fact to help fast track utilization by the LGUs,  ( DILG) Secretary  (Eduardo) Ano has directed our finance department to send finance monitoring and tracking teams with our engineers and accounting staff to Yolanda-affected LGUs," said Malaya.

"We will personally check on the repair rehabilitation or reconstruction of the projects involved and we will do this with coordination with the respective COA offices in these jurisdiction," he said.

Malaya clarified that the projects under their funds are for repair, rehabilitation and reconstruction of government facilities damaged by Yolanda such as municipal halls, public market, civic centers, barangay halls and similar structures.

"Based on the report of DPWH to us, the 25 RAY ( recovery assistance for (Yolanda) projects under them are fully completed... The situations (on the affected areas) are different and the DILG is closely monitoring them," Malaya added.  Ella Dionisio/DMS