PHILIPPINE TRIBUNE ONLINE | P5.4-B foreign aid not safe with Noy gov’t, groups say

 

Written by  Charlie V. Manalo
Philippine Tribune Online
Sunday, 17 November 2013 00:00

 

Several groups yesterday urged the Commission on Audit (CoA) to fully audit all the financial aid received by the Aquino government from foreign donors to help victims of super typhoon “Yolanda.”

 

In a joint statement, the fisherfolk group Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) and rural-based relief organizations Sagip Kanayunan and Tulong Anakpawis said CoA should start monitoring and auditing funds intended for Yolanda victims.

 

“We are talking here of some P5.4 billion or roughly 126.8 million US dollars. We cannot entrust this to the Aquino government which also champions the legacy of pork barrel and bureaucratic corruption.

We hope CoA will do its assignment in the name of the victims of typhoon Yolanda and for the sake of national interest and public transparency,” said Pamalakaya vice chairperson Salvador France.

 

According to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), the Aquino government received assistance amounting to nearly $130 million from 143 international donors that came from the United States, Japan, European Union, Australia, China and Saudi Arabia to name a few.

 

However, DFA spokesman Raul Hernandez said the amount “accounts only for those donations to which the donors assigned a monetary value, adding that pledges of financial aid have to be processed in accordance with the rules and regulations of the donors before the funds reach the recipients.

 

At any rate, the groups said CoA along with an independent body composed of church people, anti-corruption groups and service oriented organizations should handle the monitoring and audit of donated funds.

 

“It is a proposal that stemmed from a collective belief and sentiment that the administration of President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino is not only incompetent and arrogant, but also equally or superbly corrupt and ravenous than the previous administrations and that the international support for the victims would only go to the corrupt syndicate operating inside and outside of Malacañang if not properly handled and supervised,” the groups said.

 

“This is a fact and not a bluff that this administration has no political and moral authority to receive and handle international support for the victims of the recent catastrophe in Eastern Visayas and 34 more provinces,” the groups added.

 

“The pork-obsessed administration of President Aquino is dangerous. We cannot rely on this incumbent ruling gangland in Malacañang would ensure that these international aid for earthquake victims would go to relief and rehabilitation.

 

Something must be done to stop this unbridled exploitation and wholesale raid of people’s resources,” they added.

“The proposal of Pamalakaya regarding the formation of an independent body will solicit the support primarily of faith-based organizations, trusted non-government organizations and institutions and representatives of victims and people’s organizations.

 

The groups said the idea is to insulate foreign aid from the corrupt regime of Aquino and make sure these would go directly for the relief and rehabilitation of people, livelihood and communities.

They said CoA can be tapped to monitor the foreign aid and make periodic reporting on the status of foreign aid.

 

They reminded foreign donors that the Philippine government has yet to account the foreign assistance it received for victims of typhoon Pablo last year.

 

“What happened to these foreign aid remains big question mark because no report and proper accounting were made. The foreign donors should learn its’ lesson well and must distrust this administration to the highest order,” the groups added.

 

They said also until now, the Aquino government has yet to account for the P22 million assistance it received from the government of Japan and another P160 million from the European Union for the victims of typhoon Pablo.#