(Eagle News) — More than half of the money released by the previous administration as aid for Typhoon “Yolanda” victims are unaccounted for, a lawmaker said.
According to Negros Occidental Rep. Alfredo Benitez, as such, he has asked the Commission on Audit to hold a “special audit” to determine where the P40 billion of the P60 billion released by the national government under then-President Benigno Aquino III have gone.
He said the audit was also so the COA could investigate how several houses for the victims came to be made of “substandard materials.”
He said this was based on testimony provided “under oath” by an engineer—a supposed subcontractor from Balangiga, Samar—who approached Benitez’s team when they went to Eastern Visayas to make an inspection.
“Sixty billion pesos yun. Saan napunta ang pera?” Benitez said.
According to Benitez, the inquiry could extend to the possible liability of the contractor for the projects, JC Tayag, which subcontracted them to another party.
Benitez said according to the National Housing Authority, subcontracting was allowed for as long as the agency gave its approval.
“As of today, wala raw silang ginawang approval,” Benitez said.
Super Typhoon “Yolanda” hit parts of Eastern Visayas in 2013, forcing hundreds of thousands from their homes, and causing property damage in the billions.
President Rodrigo Duterte has formed a special task force tasked with the recovery and rehabilitation of those badly hit by the typhoon.