Cong. Edgar M. Chatto
First District Cong. Edgar Chatto has called on national government to use the updated Department of Social Welfare and Development – Disaster Response Operations Monitoring and Information Center (DSWD-DROMIC) data which show the real situation in the province and use it in the equitable distribution of aid downloaded directly to local government units (LGU).
In a statement released on Jan. 6, 2021, Chatto asked the DSWD, Department of Budget and Management (DBM), Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Department of National Defense (DND), regarding the use of updated data in the equitable distribution of aid to those affected by the typhoon.
The issue stems after Chatto noticed a glaring discrepancy in the allocation of aid for Bohol LGUs.
The discrepancy was brought to his attention by Provincial Administrator Katyrin Pioquinto who received a copy of the allocation list released by DBM to the Office of the Governor. The list shows that some towns in Bohol did not receive any aid from the national government.
Moreover, Chatto then called DSWD Usec. Fel Bodiongan and Asec. Glenda Relova to ask for an explanation. Both DSWD officials were quick in saying that the basis used by DBM was the DSWD-DROMIC Report no. 27 on typhoon Odette as of Dec. 28, 2021, 6 in the morning.
According to the DBM, LGUs with no aid allocations are those that have zero typhoon-affected constituents.
Chatto pointed out that the reality is all localities in Bohol were hit by the typhoon with varying degrees of damage and impact.
Chatto concluded that the DSWD-DROMIC data must be incomplete. As a result, the use of incomplete data deprives some LGUs in Bohol of their rightful share to the aid allocation.
Furthermore, DSWD Asst. Regional Director Shalaine Lucero said that she agrees with Chatto’s observation that not all the needed pieces of information were gathered because of communication problems as electricity and online connectivity were lost almost in every place in the province.
DSWD Central Visayas office assures the continued updating to make the data more reflective of the real situation in various areas in Bohol.DBM Usec. Kim de Leon said the department is aware of the issue on the lack of complete data but that the available funds had to be released using information that is available.
Meanwhile, Chatto thanked President Rodrigo Duterte for the immediate release of funds with DBM’s assurance to LGUs that subsequent fund releases in 2022 will hopefully address the issues created by incomplete data.
The solon again urges the LGUs to strongly collaborate with the Provincial Government through Gov. Arthur Yap and the concerned national agencies in the required damage assessment reports and data, which will be used as basis for assistance allocations, rehabilitation and recovery plans.