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Monday, July 24, 2006
Education official: P8.5M just a pledge yet
By Ben O. Tesiorna
DAVAO CITY -- Called upon to clarify the issue that has started the word war between a congressman and a city official, the education director said Sunday they have not received the money intended to rebuild a burned down school.
Department of Education Regional Director Diamar Kadon said there is already the pledge of money from the National Government but there is no money yet so construction cannot yet start.
In a telephone interview Sunday, Kadon said they received a sub-Allotment Release Order, which is a pledge from the National Government that funds have already been made available.
With this order, Kadon said they could already proceed with the bidding process but construction could not start unless there is a "notice of cash allocation."
House majority floor leader Prospero C. Nograles and his son and chief of staff Karlo tangled with City Administrator Wendel E. Avisado over whether the National Government had made good its promise to provide money for the rebuilding of the Palma Gil Elementary School.
"Alam ng city engineer na last Monday lang dumating ang advance copy ng sub-Saro in the amount of 8.5 million," Kadon said through text early morning Saturday. (The engineer knows that the sub-Allotment Release Order in the amount of P8.5 million was only received last Monday.)
The Monday Kadon referred to was on July 17, the day after the controversial "Ato 'ni Bay" radio program where Avisado castigated the National Government for reneging on its promise.
"Gusto ko lang i-clarify na hindi pa yan pera, wala pa kaming pera," Kadon said. (I just wanted to clarify; we don't have the money yet.)
This means they cannot go ahead and order the construction of the burnt school along Quirino Avenue.
But we can now start the bidding process, Kadon said.
Karlo, as the congressman's chief of staff, earlier cautioned Avisado from issuing wrong statements after the city administrator castigated the National Government for its failure to release the P15 million it promised.
In response, Avisado said he was just stating a fact when he said the money was not yet available.
Avisado earlier said that President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo committed P15 million to rebuild the school but the money is not yet available while the City Government has set aside a counterpart fund. The total cost of rebuilding the school is P30.8 million. Of this, P300,000 is for demolition of the burnt building.
Karlo said in a letter dated July 17 to Avisado that the National Government had allocated an initial amount of P8.5 million as early as March 23.
He said they are relying on the city to pay for the demolition of the burned building structures so construction could start.
Over the weekend, Karlo called on the DepEd regional director to come out and clarify the issue.
"Director Kadon you better issue a press statement as soon as possible that you already have the first tranche of P8.5 million for the Palma Gil Elementary School's construction. All the necessary papers are now with you," Karlo said.
He said the remaining balance will be delivered once the construction starts.
Kadon called Sun.Star Sunday to clarify that what they have right now is a pledge from the National Government that the money is already available. (Sun.Star Davao/Sunnex)
(July 24, 2006 issue)
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