Palace: Bicol rehab exempt from ban

THE P10-billion fund for the repair of areas that were stricken by super typhoons last year is exempted from the public works ban during the election period and the Department of Budget and Management is set to release the amount soon.

But Budget Secretary Rolando Andaya Jr. assured the public that the disbursement of the multi-billion Calamity Assistance and Relief Efforts (CARE) fund will follow strict guidelines to be handed down by the Commission on Elections.

“Work on these projects will continue for as long as activities will be limited to the restoration of the damaged facilities. Another requirement under the Omnibus Election Code is to report these projects to the Commission on Elections before hand,” Andaya said.

He explained that the mandatory public works ban during the election period will not cover the repair work in the towns ravaged by super-typhoons Milenyo, Paeng, Reming and Senyang.

Section 261 of the Omnibus Elections Code treats “emergency works” necessitated by a public calamity as exempt from the public works ban so long as work undertaken is limited to restoration activities. The public works ban will take effect on March 30.

The budget chief said it would be another disaster if the repair of the damaged classrooms will not be allowed because the summer season is the best time for the public works before classes open in June.

“In fact, we should take advantage of the good weather window, the first five months of the year, to rush repair work before the rains come again,” he said.

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo also allayed fears that the government will go on a spending binge to fatten up government coffers after the passage of the 2007 national budget.

Mrs. Arroyo said the administration will respect the public works ban during the elections and will stick to the budget to preserve the country’s economic gains.

“Lest anyone falsely declare that we will spend beyond our means before the upcoming elections, I’ve something to say: No way,” the President said. “We have a budget in place and the discipline and political will to stick to it. Our economic managers are also determined to meet their goal of balancing our budget in 2008.”

Aside from calamity repair, the ban also does not cover foreign-funded projects, maintenance work on existing public works project and housing-related projects.

The 2007 budget provides for capital outlays to build 3,251 km of roads, 6,000 classrooms, 16 airports, and 1,312 flood systems, among other infrastructure projects. Joyce Pangco Pañares