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DAR staff solicits funding for Apayao, Kalinga typhoon victims

But boss diverts funds to Region III

BAGUIO CITY (Dec. 17)—Through the initiative of the Department of Agrarian Reform-Cordillera Administrative Region (DAR-CAR), funds were solicited this month for families affected by super typhoon Yoyong in Kalinga and Apayao provinces.

The German Development Cooperation (GDC) allotted P1 million for relief operations that will benefit 2,472 families in Calanasan, 1,000 families in Cabugao both in Apayao, and 1,817 families in Pinukpuk, Kalinga.

However, employees are upset that such plan will no longer push through after DAR-CAR Regional Director Erlinda Pearl Armada diverted the funds to Region III without consulting or even sharing the plan with DAR employees.

In a meeting with the employees this week, Armada simply said that “hindi maayos ang mga reports ninyo” (Your reports are not in order) when confronted on her action. The reports she referred to are DAR offices’ field reports in Apayao and Kalinga on the extent of typhoon damages in the said provinces.

The funds are already expected in these provinces, “but the DAR offices there don’t even know yet that the solicited amount has already been diverted to Region III”, said a source who requested anonymity.

A progress report submitted to the DAR-CAR by the Provincial Disaster Coordinating Council (PDCC) of Kalinga reports that as of December 8, a total of P37,000,900 worth of infrastructure has been destroyed. Estimated cost of agricultural crops damaged amounts to P25,000,000; livestock and fisheries at P1,000,000, and private buildings and residential houses at P500,000.

“We commiserate with the typhoon victims in Region III, but what the regional director did is simply unacceptable. The funds were intended for typhoon victims in Apayao and Kalinga”, the NORDIS source said.

Another source, who also requested anonymity, said that it was not even Armada who did groundwork to ensure the funds.

Incidentally, Armada hails from Bulacan in Region III.

DAR employees said they will not let this incident pass as interviews were already made this week in radio stations in the city.

Sources interviewed said that Armada is known for delaying appointments, taking as long as two years before an appointment is finally made.

“We can let that pass. But not this”, the interviewees affirmed. # AT Bengwayan for NORDIS

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