MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. issued a stern warning to local chief executives against misusing disaster recovery funds, emphasizing that the government will maintain a zero-tolerance policy toward corruption, fictitious projects, and substandard infrastructure during rehabilitation efforts.
Speaking during the ceremonial turnover of the Disaster Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Assistance Program (DRRAP) funds to local government units (LGUs) at Malacañang, Marcos stressed that public allocations must be strictly dedicated to communities devastated by calamities rather than personal financial gain.
“Pera po ito ng taumbayan at para ito sa mga kababayan nating nasalanta. Hindi ito pondo para pagkakitaan at hindi rin ito pondo para sinumang gustong magpayaman sa gitna ng ating mga nararamdaman na trahedya,” Marcos said.
“There must be no room for corruption in this program,” he added.
The administration affirmed that ghost projects, kickbacks, and the utilization of substandard materials will not be tolerated, warning that individuals exploiting disaster funds will face legal consequences.
“Bawal ang ghost projects. Bawal ang mga komisyon. Bawal mga substandard na rehabilitation projects,” Marcos warned.
“Anyone who tries to profit from the suffering of our fellow Filipinos will face the full force of the law,” he stated.
Allocation Based on Need, Not Politics
President Marcos assured that the distribution of DRRAP funds was executed strictly on the basis of community need, independent of political affiliations.
“Kung pagbangon ang pinag-uusapan, hindi maaring pag-antayin ang ating mga kababayan,” Marcos said.
“It is with trust that we hand it to you based on need—no political color considered,” he added.
To fast-track rehabilitation, the national government has shortened the approval timeline from the previous eight to eleven months down to four to six months. Under the initiative, a total of ₱8.6 billion has been approved to assist 306 LGUs affected by disasters between 2024 and 2026.
More than ₱6 billion has already been disbursed in the initial batch, while over ₱2.5 billion has been approved for the second batch.
The financial assistance will directly fund critical recovery sectors, including shelter and resettlement, infrastructure like roads and bridges, public buildings, evacuation centers, education, health services, agriculture, and social protection.
Furthermore, the President urged local officials to improve documentation and timely reporting to the Office of Civil Defense and the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) to ensure accurate assessments and efficient delivery of future aid.
“We trust our LGUs know what is best for their communities. In turn, we will provide the resources that you need to carry out these interventions,” Marcos concluded.