Puerto Princesa Information Officer Richard Ligad clarified Monday, April 28, that the city’s calamity fund remains intact, responding to circulating allegations on social media about its depletion. However, Ligad did not address concerns raised separately by Atty. Jimbo Maristela regarding the alleged underutilization of the city’s Special Education Fund (SEF).
In a Facebook post, Ligad said that of the city’s total calamity fund, ₱32,364,350.00 had been used for cash assistance distributed to affected residents, based on lists submitted by barangays and evaluated by the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO).
“May naiwan pa pong ₱54,202,698.40,” Ligad said, emphasizing that a significant amount remains available for future emergencies.
He also pointed out that funds for calamities cannot be exhausted immediately to ensure readiness for other disasters.
“Ang pondo para sa kalamidad ay hindi pwedeng iubos agad-agad dahil kailangan nating siguraduhin na may available pa rin na pondo kung sakaling magkaroon ulit ng emergency o sakuna,” Ligad added.
Ligad’s clarification, however, only addressed the city’s calamity fund and not the separate allegations involving the SEF.
Maristela earlier raised issues based on the 2023 Commission on Audit (COA) report, which found the city’s SEF “inefficient” and “underutilized.” He said the fund had an unprogrammed cash balance of ₱240,361,743.22 and unimplemented projects amounting to ₱43,999,804.
“Napakalaki po ng pondo natin sa Special Education Fund pero hindi po ito ginagamit ng tama. Hindi po ito ginagamit para sa totoong pangangailangan ng mga public school natin. Walang classroom, walang sports development, walang utility expenses para mabawasan ang binabayad ng mga magulang,” Maristela said.
He stressed that the SEF should cover school utility expenses to relieve the burden on parents.
“Ang tubig at kuryente, dapat SEF ang sumasagot niyan pero ang nangyayari, ang mga magulang pa rin ang nagbabayad sa pamamagitan ng contributions,” he said.
Maristela also noted that only ₱34,945,873.74, or 51 percent of the ₱68,700,980.84 SEF budget for 2023, had been spent. He questioned the funding of only one school building project that year, given the city’s numerous infrastructure needs.
“Isang building lang ang nilagay sa 2023 budget. Eh napakaraming school buildings ang kailangan ng Puerto Princesa,” he said.
Responding to criticism that he was using an outdated audit report, the former councilor clarified that the 2023 COA report remains the latest available.
“Hindi outdated ang report. 2023 ang pinakahuling COA report na available sa publiko. Walang 2024 report pa. Ang hinihingi lang naman natin ay transparency at tamang paggastos ng pondo,” he said.
“Wala po akong pinapatamaan. Wala akong gustong siraan. Ang gusto ko lang ay mailabas ang totoo at para malaman ng tao ang totoong kalagayan ng pondo ng ating pamahalaang lungsod,” he added.
