Montejo: DOST can account for every centavo used from DAP

Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Secretary Mario Montejo on Tuesday said they can account for the funds under the controversial Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP) used by his agency.

 

In an interview with Arnold Clavio on GMA's Unang Hirit, Montejo assured that "Ultimo singko, ma-a-account namin kung saan napunta ang aming funds."

 

"Kami ang mismong nag-implement ng project. Hindi kami nag-manage or fund manager lang kami of an NGO (non-government organization)," he added.

 

Montejo also said they can "account for the benefit, ano nga ba ang nangyari because of that project."

 

Some P2 billion under the DAP was used by the agency to fund weather forecasting equipment and to develop “complementary baby food” to fight malnutrition in the country, the agency’s head said Monday.

 

Montejo said his agency utilized DAP releases to "accelerate" the procurement of disaster risk reduction equipment, such as early warning devices and sensors, under Project NOAH (Nationwide Operational Assessment of Hazard).

 

"This was after Typhoon (sic) Sendong in Cagayan de Oro wherein we were instructed by the President to develop an early flood warning system for the 18 major river systems," he said.

 

"Nagpresenta muna kami ng programa, at major compenent nun ay ang P1.6-billion DREAM. In-approve ng ating Pangulo at it was sourced through savings of the national government," he added.

 

Montejo said of the 18 major river systems, 17 early flood warning systems have been set up, six of which are operational.

 

"Next month, all 17 will be operational, and by January, all 18 will be operational, ang ating early warning system in our major river systems," he assured.

 

Funds from Ping, Pia

 

Montejo also said his agency got over P40 million from Senators Pia Cayetano and Panfilo Lacson in 2011 to fund the development of "complementary baby food" to fight malnutrition in the country and to support the government’s breastfeeding program. 

 

Earlier, Lacson said that the fund release to the DOST "must have been an amendment that [he] introduced during the plenary period of amendments which was accepted by the sponsor and not objected to by any senator."

 

"An amendment made on the floor could only come from the funds slashed from other departments and therefore, originally part of the budget bill," the former senator said.

 

Montejo said: "It's how you look at it. Definitely, he requested for support from DBM. Pero hindi naman nakalagay doon na i-source natin sa DAP. Hindi nakalagay." —Amanda Fernandez/KG, GMA News