Misappropriated

In a calamity, the local government has first responsibility for mobilizing an adequate response. It also has first responsibility for mitigating the recurrence of calamities.

The much-touted flood control programs failed our people. There is strong suspicion much of these funds have been looted. Sen. Imee Marcos, for one, has called for an investigation into the P32 billion in flood-control money allocated for the Bicol region alone.

We hope such an investigation happens and that it is thorough. The flood control funds are from hard-earned taxpayer money. Some of it was sourced from borrowings that compromise the future generations. If they were looted, the guilty must be brought to justice.

On top of the flood-control funds, millions are allocated each local government by way of a Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund (LDRRMF). This allocation is supplemented, when necessary, by money from the Local Development Fund (LDF). Use of these funds is a critical measure of the quality of governance the local government provides.

The manner these critical funds were used by Naga City is a case study in how disaster mitigation money might be poorly used.

Naga City in Camarines Sur was one of the hardest hit areas in the wake of Severe Tropical Storm Kristine. The flooding caused by the overflow of the Bicol River and runoff from the deforested slopes of Mount Isarog submerged 30 percent of the city’s land area. Confirmed fatalities from the deluge stood at 14 while a total of 380,000 individuals were dislocated.

After submerging Naga City’s districts, local authorities requested for pump boats and heavy equipment to rescue citizens stranded by the flooding and clear roads that isolated entire communities. They did not have the critical equipment, even as regular audit reports called attention to the poor usage of disaster funds due mainly to the absence of adequate plans.

Forward planning should have directed the local authorities to dredge the Bicol River and reforest Mount Isarog. Neither was done.

Reports submitted by the Commission on Audit (COA) virtually predicted what happened: the city’s disaster response systems were overwhelmed. There was a crying lack of early warning systems and a failure to procure rescue equipment. The reports are a telling indictment of the quality of governance provided this forsaken city.

According to the audit reports, Naga City was allocated P234.84 million in LDRRMF in 2022. In 2023, LDRRMF allocation for the city was P215.78 million. In the absence of a detailed investment plan, however, the fund was poorly utilized. The city accumulated P118.7 million in unexpended funds.

The only conclusion that could be drawn from the audit is that the city’s disaster mitigation fund was plagued with under-utilization, vague planning and record-keeping discrepancies. Without a clear plan, the funds were distributed without a cohesive strategy. This resulted in project delays and neglected initiatives.

In 2022, for instance, P38 million of the unused mitigation fund was realigned from the MOOE of the LDRRMF to capital outlay projects. The process this was done was in violation of the Local Government Code’s provision on fund transfers.

In 2023, the city received P50 million from PAGCOR to build a multi-purpose evacuation center. An additional P5.255 million was sourced from the city’s Local Development Fund. A post-construction inspection by COA unveiled significant structural issues. Auditors found the building did not meet the required standards for safety, such as the use of non-skid tiles. There were cracks in the walls and columns along with a defective roof deck.

In the end, the handsomely funded evacuation center could only accommodate 80 people, according to a DWSD report. Furthermore, additional funding is now required to correct all the flaws in the original construction.

Discrepancies were found in the rehabilitation of the Jesse M. Robredo Coliseum using funds from the city’s 2021 LDRRMF. To begin with, construction of the structure was substandard. This required the repairs that may have been charged to the contractor within a year after it was constructed.

In addition to the repairs, auditors found that money from the LDRRMF was used for insurance payments for structures identified as “local economic enterprises.” These included the Robredo Coliseum and the Naga City People’s Mall.

The city government also did a sloppy job maintaining its natural drainage channels such as creeks. Inspections showed the waterways clogged with garbage.

A drainage project in the city aimed at mitigating flooding risks was found deficient. It lacked the number of manholes required. Some manhole covers lacked important features such as handlebars. Several were obstructed by road concreting.

In several instances, the city realigned LDRRMF money without the benefit of an ordinance passed by the city council. This violates the provisions of the Local Government Code as well as the standards of transparent government.

Although funds were realigned without an ordinance, many projects were put on hold. Key projects such as an early warning system and rehabilitation of infrastructure were delayed. Among these were drainage improvement and the fencing of flood-prone areas such as Sto. Niño and Concepcion Grande. The delay contributed to the severity of the floods that hit the city last week.

True, climate change is causing more severe weather events. This should not spare the quality of local governance from rigorous review.

Naga City might have been spared the worst of what we saw after Kristine if it acted early to build a long-term disaster mitigation plan – avoiding misappropriation.