Press Release
July 1, 2008

PALACE URGED TO SPEED UP RELEASE OF IRA
FOR TYPHOON-HIT PROVINCES

Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Q. Pimentel, Jr. (PDP-Laban) today urged President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to speed up the release of the Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) covering the months of July, August and September to provinces severely hit by Typhoon Frank so that they can have the much-needed funds for emergency relief to disaster victims.

Pimentel made this urgent request in view of widespread complaints among local government officials and displaced residents in the affected provinces about the undue delay in the delivery of relief goods, medical aid and other assistance from the national government.

"President Arroyo should now release the Internal Revenue Allotment for the months of July, August and September to the typhoon-hit provinces for them to use the 5 percent of their budget for emergency relief in view of the delay in the delivery of national aid," he said.

The Local Government Code authorizes local government units to allocate 5 percent of their budget for calamity-related expenses.

Pimentel said based on report of the National Disaster Coordinating Council, the typhoon-stricken provinces include Romblon, Marinduque, Albay, Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Iloilo, Cotabato, Sarangani, Shariff Kabunsuan and Sultan Kudarat.

He stressed that the early release of IRA is extremely important to give local government authorities the resources to alleviate the sufferings of their constituents, especially those who have lost their homes and means of livelihood and who are now staying in government evacuation centers.

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