Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo found an ally on the controversial withdrawal by the Department of Budget and Management of the P480 million calamity funds for the rehabilitation, improvement and repair of damaged infrastructure projects due to tropical depression “Sendong”.

Rep. George Arnaiz (Neg. Or., 2nd District) said he is supporting the decision of second district mayors and Degamo to request President Benigno Aquino III to release the amount intended for the repair, rehabilitation, improvement of river dikes, dredging, re-channeling and deepening of riverbanks as soon as possible.

He said he was surprised to learn that somebody is blocking the release of the calamity funds, especially since most of the amount is intended for his district.

Arnaiz said he would have wanted the projects undertaken as soon as possible before another flashflood hit the province.

In fact, two barangays in Dumaguete were inundated last Sunday.*JG

back to top