P9.5 billion in supplemental budget earmarked for Yolanda housing
THE SO-CALLED transitional houses for survivors of Supertyphoon “Yolanda” are made of nipa and bamboo. While beneficiaries say these are better than leaky tents, the place where these were built is farfrom where they earn a living. CONTRIBUTED PHOTOS
MANILA, Philippines—At least P9.5 billion of the proposed P22.5-billion supplemental budget for 2015 is earmarked for the emergency shelter assistance and housing construction of victims of Supertyphoon “Yolanda.”
According to House Bill No. 5237, P7.9 billion were allotted for the construction of permanent housing under the National Housing Authority (NHA) for the victims of Yolanda (international name: Haiyan), the world’s strongest typhoon to hit land that claimed over 6,000 lives.
At least P1.5 billion was also earmarked for the emergency shelter assistance for Yolanda survivors.
The next biggest allotment is P2.8 billion for the operational transformation plan of the Philippine National Police, under the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG).
This is followed by the P1.9-billion allotment for the upgrading of the National Household Targeting System for Poverty Reduction of the Department of Social Welfare and Development, and P1.8 billion for the obligations arising from implemented infrastructure projects under the Department of Public Works and Highways.
The NHA handled by Vice President Jejomar Binay and the DILG under Interior Secretary Mar Roxas received the larger portions of the budget. Binay and Roxas are expected to compete in the 2016 presidential race.
The Department of Budget and Management initially asked the House of Representatives for P23.34 billion in supplemental budget but this was slashed to P22 billion after P1.3 billion in additional funds for the hosting of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) Summit was taken out.
The supplemental budget will also fund projects that were stalled after the Supreme Court struck down the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) and some practices under the Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP), according to Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr.
Belmonte said he expected the supplemental budget to be passed before the House adjourns for Christmas break on December 19.
The rest of the supplemental budget is broken down as follows:
P977.69 million – Light Rail Transit line 1 and 2 rehabilitation P957.163 million – Metro Rail Transit 3 rehabilitation and capacity extension P803.380 million – Additional capital outlay and maintenance and other operating expenses for implementation of the Treasury single account P715.360 million – Enterprise Information System Plan of the Supreme Court P350 million – Construction of the New Bohol Provincial Capitol to replace condemned building P340.345 million – Coconut Scale Insect Emergency Action Plan P300 million – Digi Efund-ICT Hardware for Government P286.702 million – Implementation of the North Triangle Relocation Project P250 million – Completion of the Legislative Library and Archives Building/Congressional E-Library P240 million – Completion of the Development Assistance to Quezon province P210 million – Retrofitting of the Presidential Management Staff Office Building P199.167 million – Transition Investment Support Plan for the ARMM Procurement of 33 fire trucks P196.385 million – Construction of fishport, lighthouses and seawalls P178 million – Closure of the San Mateo Sanitary Landfill P117 million – Construction of the Mactan-Cebu International Airport VIP Lounge Building P100.407 million – Budgetary shortfall for transaction fees and charges as a result of the implementation of the treasury single account P40 million – Provision of rent of office space during pendency of construction of Philippine Institute for Development Studies new building P32.6 million – Installation of the 10 megavolt amperes substation in Sto. Domingo, Albay P32.224 million – Phase 2 of the renovation of the Department of Finance-Office of Secretary property P11.176 million – Hiring of new 294 former rebels as forest guards under the National Greening Program P5.2 million – Transfer of Quezon city Prosecutors and Public Attorney’s Office
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