Puerto Princesa City is now under a state of calamity following a resolution passed on Monday by the City Council. According to news reports, this declaration will provide some ₱86 million in quick response funds (QRF) to the city government in order to provide relief to the many families affected by the flooding throughout the city.
As experience hereabouts has shown, emergency funds when handled without transparency can easily be overwhelmed by the murky flood waters of mismanagement and inefficiency. While it is the inherent responsibility of the city council to provide oversight to this budget spending, the city government can do well by providing an additional mechanism for real-time public accountability..
We propose that the city government establish a Calamity Fund Transparency Portal, a publicly accessible online dashboard where every peso from the QRF can be tracked. This platform should provide real-time updates on how much of the fund has been allocated, to whom, for what purpose, and under which procurement process. Similar systems have been implemented in many local government and private initiatives throughout the country to prove that transparency is not just possible but also effective in deterring fund mismanagement.
Beyond just digital transparency, the city government may also publish regular financial reports and conduct public hearings where affected residents can directly inquire about the relief and rehabilitation efforts. These measures would ensure that aid reaches those who need it most—not just those with the right connections.
The city government must act with urgency, not only in disbursing aid but also in proving to its constituents that every centavo is used for its intended purpose. If Puerto Princesa is to rebuild, it might as well do so with transparency and integrity as its main building blocks.
