Press Release
October 16, 2009

POLITICAL BACKLASH LIKELY AFTER ONDOY, PEPENG - ANGARA

Senator Edgardo J. Angara today called on the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) for the immediate release of the Congress-approved P12 billion fund for Ondoy and Pepeng relief and rehabilitation efforts, saying that "government cannot afford to make the people wait, lest we elicit a massive political backlash."

"Ondoy, Pepeng and Frank are, above all, a test of governance. We cannot afford to keep the people waiting for relief. Filipinos are patient, but also very discerning. If we wait too long and allow more people to die from hunger and disease, we will elicit the same reaction that the Bush administration suffered in the Katrina aftermath," said Angara, chair of the Senate Committee on Finance.

Angara compares the current situation to the US experience after Hurricane Katrina, emphasizing the social and political consequences of natural calamities.

"One thing that stood out during the Katrina tragedy was the failure of the US government - the richest country in the world and the only remaining superpower - to plan, prepare for and respond to the calamity. This caused the already unpopular Bush to become even more scorned by his constituents. This should serve as a cautionary tale for us," he said.

He also asked officials of the DBM, DPWH, DA and DSWD to be very clear and specific in the allocation of calamity funds. Angara noted that funds from government should be distinguished from those donated by local and international NGOs and foreign governments to avoid misallocation and double-distribution.

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