Palace not worried about P48-M Yolanda aid sleeping in banks
MANILA, Philippines - Malacañang is not worried over the finding of the Commission on Audit (COA) that over P48.8 million in local and foreign donations for victims of Super Typhoon Yolanda are still kept in banks and not being used for recovery efforts.
In a press briefing on Thursday, Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said the COA finding should cause no concern because the government continues to address the needs of the families affected by the powerful typhoon in November 2013.
"Wala namang dapat ikabahala, hintayin na lang natin 'yung pagtugon ng mga ahensya. 'Yon namang salapi ay ligtas doon sa bangko. Hindi po ito napariwara. Gagamitin naman po ito sa tamang dapat na paggamitan," Coloma told Palace reporters.
According to the COA report released on Wednesday, the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) and the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) have not touched the P48.8-million donations as of June 2014.
COA said not utilizing the donations defeats their purpose since typhoon victims are deprived of needed assistance in their lowest times.
"For donations received in the aftermath of Typhoon Yolanda, we can safely assume that the donors intended these donations to be used for the victims and/or the communities affected by the typhoon, unless otherwise required to be returned to the donor," state auditors said.
“What the victims need is speedy delivery of basic goods and services as temporary relief from their unexpected plight. We believe that this is the very essence of the prompt donations entrusted by the donors and NDRRMC should actively play the very important role lodged to it in times of disasters," they added.
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