It turns out that there’s more to this story.
Last week, Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Mar Roxas scolded mayors in Bohol for being unprepared to implement rehabilitation projects despite the availability of funds.
“Roxas got angry at the Bohol mayors for failing to submit their programs of works and estimates that details how they planned to carry out rehabilitation plans,” reports Carmel Loise Matus in Philippine Daily Inquirer.
But Maribojoc Mayor Leoncio Evasco Jr. is fighting back, saying that Roxas should not blame the mayors.
Evasco defended his fellow mayors by pointing out that “they could not just submit their rehabilitation plans because they are required to follow the DILG guidelines.”
Here’s the thing: “The guidelines, however, were released only on August 1, almost two months after Roxas and Budget Secretary Butch Abad turned over around PHP2.3 billion in funds for BEA on June 6 to Bohol Governor Edgar Chatto.”
The report noted: “Evasco said had Roxas brought with him the guidelines when he handed the check for PHP2.3 billion, the mayors would have been able to complete their rehabilitation plans.”
Photo: Inquirer video screengrab
