For failing to immediately process and release national government’s assistance to local government units (LGUs) affected by Typhoon “Ulysses,” former vice president Jejomar "Jojo" Binay on Wednesday (November 25) called out the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), saying over two weeks have already passed since the typhoon made landfall.
Binay noted that the DBM, by its own admission, only completed processing the documents last November 24.
“There is no sense of urgency despite the extent of the devastation and the orders from the President to cut red tape in the processing of aid. The DBM seems to treat emergency situations like this as another day at the office,” the former vice president said in a statement.
He said that it is unacceptable, that until now, the national government has not given aid to the LGUs devastated by Typhoon Ulysses. "Nakalimutan yata ng DBM na may utos na alisin ang red tape sa paglalabas ng tulong (It seems that DBM has forgotten that there is an order to remove red tape in releasing assistance)."
“The two weeks it took the DBM to process the documents is two weeks of burden for the LGUs, and for their constituents whose lives have been severely affected by the typhoon,” Binay pointed out.
“May nagsasabi na mabuti rin at inamin ito ng DBM, pero mas mabuti kung minadali na lang nila ang paglabas ng ayuda (Some are saying that it is a good thing that the DBM has admitted this, but it's better if they hastened the release of the financial aids),” he added.
Typhoon Ulysses made landfall in Quezon province on November 11, moving across provinces previously devastated by Typhoon “Rolly.” This led to widespread flooding in Metro Manila, Cagayan, and Isabela.
It can be recalled that Pres. Duterte ordered government agencies to cut red tape in releasing aid to affected LGUs and created a task force to oversee the rehabilitation of the affected areas.
On November 24, the DBM reported that the documents needed to release the aid were ready for the President’s signature.