PIt pays to do one's homework, but for the lazy buddy, not doing one's assignment has serious consequences. Accordingly, “Nasa huli palagi ang pagsisisi.” At the very least, this is the pervading feeling of some town local government units (LGUs) in Bohol who felt sorry for themselves for not reporting a comprehensive damage assessment, in the wake of last year's 7.2 magnitude earthquake. According to Capitol insiders, there are town mayors who lament that their municipalities have “zero” share in the P2.4 billion cash fund recently released by the national government to Bohol for the rehabilitation of damaged public infrastructures, including the collapsing Tagbilaran City Hall.

The 2.4 billion check, part of the second wave of funding support promised by Pres. Aquino for Bohol's recovery efforts, was personally turned over by DILG and DBM secretaries Mar Roxas and Butch Abad to Gov. Edgar M. Chatto the other week. The P2.4 rehab fund is target-specific, meaning only the listed beneficiary LGUs could avail of the windfall. Without naming names, sources have revealed to Sunday Post that some LGUs who were “somehow lazy” in doing their homework, missing a huge opportunity of availing quick money to bankroll public infra works. “Bohol could have received a bigger amount of money had all LGUs submitted a detailed report on the damages brought about by the earthquake,” a source familiar with the matter said.

The source noted that while other LGUs were diligent in submitting a damage report, which was the basis for budgeting at the national level, some LGUs did not give a blow-by-blow assessment of the damaged structures in their localities. “This is truly regrettable. The amount is final. Only those LGUs which have a confirmed and approved list of damage can get a share of the P2.4 billion rehab fund,” the source said. “The national government would have been more than willing to release a bigger amount had the LGUs did their homework,” the source said. But there were also other LGUs, the source said, who submitted a bloated assessment of their damages, and in turn, got a more-than-enough funding. One LGU, for example, is expected to receive P40 million but another LGU would only receive P300,000, based on the submitted damage report. “Some municipalities are honest about their reporting,” the source said, “but there are also town officials who overestimated everything.”

The source, still refusing to reveal the specifics, even cited a town which already had a damaged public market before earthquake struck Bohol on Oct. 15 last year, and though said public market was not affected by the earthquake, it was still included in the damage report. However, Liza M. Quirog, head of the provincial government's internal affairs division who led in the relief efforts for quake victims, has clarified that the P2.4 billion rehab package fund is the true representation of the total cost for repair and reconstruction. “Each damage report of the LGU undergoes a process of verifying and assessment,” Quirog said. “LGUs cannot make a bloated amount since there were technical evaluations made if the estimated damage cost was factual and accurate.” Quirog dismissed reports that honesty has worked to the disadvantage of town LGUs.

“We Boholanos should be proud of our honesty that we do not give false report on our damages,” Quirog said. “The national government would no longer trust us if we give a bloated or fictitious assessment on cost of damage as truth would always come out in the end.” “We are being made model for calamity recovery in the country partly because of our honesty to report what had truly happened,” she said. Quirog, inter-agency humanitarian provincial coordinator, has noted that the data being submitted to the national government were based on consolidated reports prepared by various “early recovery” clusters and by the Provincial Planning and Development Office (PPDO) headed by lawyer John Titus Vistal. She also clarified that the data were assessed as of December 2013, thus if there were other damages caused by aftershocks, these were no longer included in the report submitted to the national government.

“Damage assessments were estimates made by LGUs and government agencies such as DepEd, DOH, DPWH, DSWD, PPA, DA, and NIA,” Quirog said. “Rehab plan estimates were based on near actual plans. Release of funds will be based on their actual program of work following the Build Back Bohol Better principle,” the top Capitol executive explained. The government came up with P2.4 billion based on the rehab plan, as well as based on the inspections conducted by DILG engineers. “Then following the directive of the Build Back Bohol Better, 30 percent of the estimated cost was added to form part of the P2.4 billion to ensure better design and stronger structure. Release of funds were based on the cost estimates reflected on the rehab plan and the DILG inspection. And then they add 30 percent for Build Back Bohol Better,” Quirog said. She clarified that the P2.4 billion is only a partial release, specifically intended for damaged public infrastructures such as municipal halls, public markets, and other government buildings. “There were LGUs who submitted damage reports but they did not submit rehab plans since the damage was only minimal. There were other LGUs who submitted their damage reports late,” Quirog disclosed. “Rehab plans submitted after the approval of the Regional Development Council are not yet included in the P12.3-billion rehab budget submitted to Pres. Aquino and national government agencies,” she said.