BY PRINCE GOLEZ
Manila Reporter
MANILA – In the July 14 list of Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP)-identified projects that the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) released, Iloilo City’s Iloilo Convention Center was not listed.
Ilonggo Senate president Franklin Drilon earlier said his P100-million DAP funds were used to build the almost P1-billion Iloilo Convention Center in Iloilo City’s Mandurriao district.
DBM should explain, said Secretary Herminio “Sonny” Coloma Jr. of the Communications Operations Office.
DBM only listed as DAP-funded the relocation sites for informal settlers along the Iloilo River and the Jalaur River Multipurpose Project-Phase II (JRMP-II).
The low-cost housing units received P100 million DAP funds, DBM records showed.
The JRMP II, on one hand, got an allocation of P450 million in DAP funds.
Coloma vowed to check with DBM where Iloilo City’s Iloilo Convention Center got funding.
Coloma also said it is “possible” that Drilon requested funds for the two DAP-listed Iloilo projects.
“These are concrete projects. The Jalaur River project will benefit thousands of people, especially farmers, and is for economic development,” Coloma stressed.
The Iloilo Convention Center will be a possible venue for at least two ministerial meetings of the 2015 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit, Drilon had said.
In his speech in Iloilo City during a visit on June 27, President Aquino confirmed that part of the funds used to construct the low-cost housing – Iloilo River Plains Subdivision Phase 1 – in Barangay Lanit, Jaro district came from DAP.
About 120 projects were DAP-funded, said DBM.
Drilon said the construction of the Iloilo Convention Center was in line with the objective of DAP “to boost growth” as the project will create more job opportunities, generate economic activities, promote tourism in the country, and pump-prime the economy.
The Senate leader said the project was funded upon his request to DBM on November 14, 2012.
“We hereby request for the release of funds in the Fiscal Year 2012 General Appropriations Act in the amount of P100 million for the construction of Iloilo Convention Center chargeable under the Department of Public Works and Highways,” Drilon said in a letter addressed to Budget Secretary Florencio Abad.
The Senate leader said Special Allotment Release Order (SARO) A-12-01294 was issued on December 12, 2012 to the Department of Public Works and Highways’ central office as the implementing agency to fund the construction of Iloilo Convention Center.
A SARO is a document that authorizes the agency to enter into an obligation or commitment, noted Drilon.
“Clearly, the record shows that the DAP funds I availed of went to a project that will benefit our people. The funds I availed of were not misused, nor were they channeled to a bogus non-government organization,” pointed out Drilon./PN
