P67-M relocation fund missing – Parañaque mayor

MANILA, Philippines - More than half of P100 million provided by the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) for the relocation of informal settlers living near the airport’s runway is missing, Parañaque Mayor Edwin Olivarez said yesterday.

In his state of the city address, Olivarez said of the amount that the MIAA turned over to the officials of the previous city government, only P33 million was accounted for while the remaining P67 million is missing.

Olivarez said the MIAA and the previous city government had agreed to work together to clear NAIA of informal settlers.

The MIAA pledged to give the city government P200 million for the relocation program and initially gave P100 million.

Olivarez said when he assumed office a year ago, his administration asked MIAA for the remaining P100 million to continue the relocation program.

The MIAA, however, required them to submit a liquidate report on the initial P100 million it gave to the city government before it could release the remaining amount.

Olivarez ordered an audit of the fund and discovered that P67 million was  not accounted for.