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Lacson slams Tacloban Mayor Romualdez on Yolanda rehabilitation
By ROUCHELLE R. DINGLASAN, GMA News
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(Updated 2:37 p.m.) Rehabilitation czar Secretary Panfilo Lacson on Monday slammed Tacloban City Mayor Alfred Romualdez for the slow pace of Yolanda (Haiyan) rehabilitation in his area.
Lacson, Secretary of the Office of the Presidential Assistant for Rehabilitation and Recovery (OPARR), said that "over-all, the rate of recovery of local governments depends on different factors including attitude and political will."
Lacson then singled out Tacloban City's rehabilitation and recovery efforts. "Its performance is below par," he said.
The OPARR Secretary explained that Romualdez refused help from the national government.
He said that Romualdez sought his help to get Tacloban's internal revenue allotment in advance.
"I seek the help of DBM (Department of Budget Management)," Lacson said. "Lo and behold, he refused to accept what he earlier requested."
Likewise, Lacson accused Romualdez of supporting anti-government protesters. He claimed that anti-government placards were found at the back of Tacloban city hall.
He chided the mayor, saying: "We are calling all local government chiefs to put the interest of your constituents before any personal or political agenda you may have."
Tacloban budget
Still, Lacson vowed that they will continue to extend help to the city.
GMA News Online was still contacting Romualdez for comment as of posting time.
Tacloban was the worst hit city by super typhoon Yolanda a year ago. Seven-meter storm surges destroyed some 90 percent of the city, a Reuters report said.
On Oct. 28, Romualdez said fewer than 100 of 14,500 promised permanent homes had been built and that thousands were still living in danger zones.
"Building more permanent homes is very slow and takes time. Hopefully, by January next year, the pace will pick up," Romualdez, nephew of former First Lady Imelda Marcos, told reporters.
"...One year after typhoon Haiyan, we are back but only about 50 percent," he said. Bureaucracy, shortage of manpower and resources, and other delays have slowed the recovery effort, he added. —KG/TJD/KBK, GMA News
Tacloban budget
In a separate press conference, Lacson said that Tacloban City had received about P6.1 billion funds for its projects and programs — the "biggest amount" extended to an LGU.
Of this amount, P230.4 million came from the Department of Internal and local Government, according to Lacson.
He said that Romualdez requested the budget for rebuilding Tacloban's city hall, public market, and the city center.
"Then, he asked the funds to be realigned," Lacson claimed.
Ask for the accounting of funds provided to Romualdez, the former senator said: "We will check starting tomorrow."
Confrontation
Lacson also said he had personally confronted Romualdez after he saw the trucks used to ferry protesters parked on the mayor's compound.
Asked for Romualdez's response, Lacson said the mayor texted to tell him "[n]ext time, we'll be more circumspect."
Lacson said he decided to these issues only now because he had enough.
"Enough is enough," the former senator and national police chief said. "Ngayon lang kami siguro napuno. We've been holding our punches [for so long]."
"We will not give up on Tacloban"
Ask for the accounting of funds provided to Romualdez, the former senator said: "We will check starting tomorrow."
Confrontation
Lacson also said he had personally confronted Romualdez after he saw the trucks used to ferry protesters parked on the mayor's compound.
Asked for Romualdez's response, Lacson said the mayor texted to tell him "[n]ext time, we'll be more circumspect."
Lacson said he decided to these issues only now because he had enough.
"Enough is enough," the former senator and national police chief said. "Ngayon lang kami siguro napuno. We've been holding our punches [for so long]."
"We will not give up on Tacloban"
"We will continue to extend a hand of cooperation to Tacloban. We will not give up on Tacloban. Nobody will be left out in the rehabilitation (efforts)," he said.
He added that as a local government chief personal agenda should be on the back burner.
"You should forget personal and political agenda and think about your constituents," he said.
GMA News Online was still contacting Romualdez for comment as of posting time.
Tacloban was the worst hit city by super typhoon Yolanda a year ago. Seven-meter storm surges destroyed some 90 percent of the city, a Reuters report said.
On Oct. 28, Romualdez said fewer than 100 of 14,500 promised permanent homes had been built and that thousands were still living in danger zones.
"Building more permanent homes is very slow and takes time. Hopefully, by January next year, the pace will pick up," Romualdez, nephew of former First Lady Imelda Marcos, told reporters.
"...One year after typhoon Haiyan, we are back but only about 50 percent," he said. Bureaucracy, shortage of manpower and resources, and other delays have slowed the recovery effort, he added. —KG/TJD/KBK, GMA News
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