Opposition Senator Leila de Lima on Thursday urged the government to fully disclose how much money is left in the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Fund and the President’s Contingent Fund to give the public an idea how much to expect for the rehabilitation of communities and provinces devastated by super typhoon “Rolly.”

De Lima said that instead of general statements, the government should be transparent about the availability of funds and augment it if it’s insufficient for the rehabilitation programs.

“I call for the full public disclosure of the remaining balances of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund and the President’s Contingent Fund—not just general statements that merely tell the public that there is no more balance, or there is very little left,” De Lima said in a statement.

“Do not use the misery of the public as a license to deviously whisk away public funds. Maawa kayo sa taumbayan (show some compassion for our people),” she appealed. 

The senator said earlier reports stated that there are around ₱3.622-billion available funds on top of the augmentations in the NDRRMC funds given under the Bayanihan 2 Law. 

“Iisa lang ang ibig sabihin nito: may pera ang gobyerno para sa tulong at ayuda (It only means one thing: the government has money to help and to give as cash assistance),” she stressed. 

With less than two months in the implementation of the 2020 budget and billions of pesos still left in the President’s calamity and NDRRMC funds, the lawmaker said the public funds must swiftly reach the areas devastated by the recent super typhoon. 

“Walang holiday o day off ang serbisyo publiko, hindi ito 8-5 job. Ibigay na ang tulong na dapat ibigay! Double-time naman po (There’s no holiday or day off in public service. This is not an 8 to 5 job. Let’s provide the assistance that they need. They should work double time),” she stressed.