OCD to improve process after COA reports slow use of donated funds for Marawi

May 31, 2019

The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) vows to improve its process and procedures after the Commission on Audit ( COA) reported the slow use of donated funds for the victims of Marawi siege.

“The OCD adheres to the observation of the COA stated in its Annual Audit Report. Rest assured that the OCD shall continuously improve its processes and procedures in compliance to existing laws, rules, and regulation specifically in the proper management and utilization of funds,” National Risk Reduction and

Management Office executive eirector and Office of Civil Defense administrator Ricardo Jalad said in a statement Friday.

Jalad said “the reason for the low utilization of the donated funds is that the OCD was instead utilizing its Quick Response Fund (QRF) to ensure expeditious delivery of services to the victims of Marawi.”

“We would like to assure the public that the funds for the victims of the Marawi siege in the amount of 36.91 million ( pesos) from various donors is still with the OCD and are not missing,” he noted.

Jalad said the assistance provided by the OCD utilizing the Quick Response Fund for the victims of the Marawi siege includes funeral assistance, transportation assistance for the victims, feeding programs in schools, food, non-food items, and family packs, rice augmentation for DSWD field office, procurement of various items for evacuation centers in Lanao del Norte such insulators for tents, aggregates for surface hardening and TV sets, reconstruction of school buildings and support to Task Force Bangon Marawi ( TFBM) field office.

He said “the OCD, as overall coordinator in the NDRRMC and TFBM, ensures the utilization of all available funds by facilitating the formulation and processing of programs, activities, and projects.”

Jalad said “as of May 30, 2019, a total of P5,164,596,449.36 has been released for the implementation of the Marawi rehabilitation and reconstruction Program.

4.8 billion pesos of the 5.1 billion has been released in 2018, while the 213 million ( pesos) was released this year (as of May 30, 2019).”

“The said 5.1 billion was used for different projects, programs and activities such as business and livelihood assistance, housing, land resource management, reconstruction, and health and social services,” he said.

“As discussed with the TFBM Chairman, Secretary Eduardo del Rosario, the 36.91 million (pesos) donated funds in the custody of the OCD will form part of the funding source for projects that will be implemented for the rehabilitation and recovery of Marawi City. We have initial utilization of said funds not reflected in the COA report which is the 1M support to TFBM Field Office for their project during the Ramadan holiday on June 5,” Jalad stated.

“We are also in the process of identifying specific projects by any implementing agency which can be funded or augmented with the said donated funds. As of this date, the total funding requirement for this year’s project is in the amount of 10 billion (pesos) for which the NDRRM funds only has about 8B available.

Hence, that 36.91 million (pesos) donated funds will certainly be utilized,” he added.

Jalad also emphasized that the “OCD Administrator had given instructions to OCD Regional Offices to assist in every possible way the victims of natural disasters and/or human-induced hazards in the processing of required documents through coordination with concerned NGAs, LGUs, and barangays” as there are several documents required from the beneficiaries which are necessary for the liquidation of the funds to the Commission on Audit.

“In exigent circumstances, OCD had provided the financial assistance to victims of disaster even pending the completion of required documents. The documents being required from the beneficiaries are necessary for the liquidation of the Accountable Officers,” he said.

“It is noteworthy to mention that the OCD led the development of the guidelines on the receipt, utilization, and monitoring of the domestic and foreign donations for disaster risk reduction and management (DRRM). On the draft guidelines, Department of Finance (DOF), together with the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), and Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) shall be tasked to receive, manage, and monitor all domestic and foreign donations, whether in cash, in-kind, grants or loans, intended for the response, recovery, reconstruction, and rehabilitation of areas affected by natural disasters or human induced hazards,” Jalad said.

“Once approved, the guidelines shall ensure the centralized safekeeping and decentralized utilization of domestic and foreign donations for disaster-affected areas received by various agencies,” he added. Robina Asido/DMS