Cash and goods still with towns: Unused donations in Camotes

CEBU, Philippines - The Commission on Audit has asked the four town in Camotes Islands to explain why some donations and assistance for super typhoon Yolanda survivors were not distributed within a reasonable time.

COA also asked the concerned officials to facilitate the utilization and distribution of the remaining financial assistance to the victims.

In its 2013 audit report, COA found out that the municipality of Pilar received several packs of assorted goods of unknown value and financial assistance totaling P6.03 million from various donors intended for typhoon survivors.

The amount represents the P5.2 million from the Province of Cebu; P275,000 from the League of Municipalities in the Philippines-Cebu chapter; P100,000 from Land Bank of the Philippines; P350,000 from Mandaue City; and P100,000 from Danao City.

COA observed that while all donated goods were distributed, only around P2 million of the cash was given to the survivors while P4.03 million remained unutilized as of March 31, 2014.

The municipality of Poro, on the other hand, received financial assistance totaling P1.95 million and several packs of assorted goods of undetermined value from various donors.

The P1.95 million came from the Province of Cebu (P1 million), LBP-Cebu (P100,000) ; Cebu City (P200,000); LMP-Cebu (P250,000); Mandaue City (P300,000) and Danao City (P100,000).

Of all donations, P203,504 of the cash and just 50 packs of  relief goods remained undistributed (as of April 2, 2014).

The 50 sacks of relief goods, on the other hand, were what remained of the 900 packs that the Department of Social Welfare and Development-7 gave last March 26, 2014 for the food for work program for the survivors.

Meanwhile, the municipality of San Francisco said it received financial assistance totaling P2.05 million, of which P1.41 million were not distributed along with 2,989 packs of assorted goods.

The P2.05 million was from the Province of Cebu (P1 million); Mandaue City P400,000); LMP (P250,000); Cebu City (P200,000);  P100,000 each from Danao City and LBP; and P4,217 from the Liaz family.

It was also observed that the town got a total of 6,814 packs of assorted goods from DSWD-7, which were delivered on January 27, 2014 (3,500 packs) and March 4, 2014 (3,314 packs) intended as food for work for the victims.

The municipality of Tudela, on the other hand, also received financial assistance totaling P3.52 million, P2.8 million of which were not given to the survivors. Of the food packs the town received on the 18th of March, 354 were still at the ground floor of the municipal hall as of April 2, 2014.

The P3.52 million represents  P2.5 million from the Province of Cebu; P300,000 from Mandaue City; P250,000 from LMP; P100,000 each from Danao City and LBP; P36,000 from a certain Allan Dolores and P30,000 from the Vice Mayors League of the Philippines. — Gregg M. Rubio/RHM (FREEMAN)