LEGAZPI CITY—Two senators have declared that they will seek a Senate inquiry into the alleged misuse of the P10-billion Calamity Assistance Rehabilitation Efforts (Care) funds in the Bicol region.

Sens. Miguel Zubiri and Gregorio Honasan recently visited Albay on separate occasions and expressed shock over the flooding in the province despite of funds released for the province’s rehabilitation after Super-typhoon Reming hit the province on November 30, 2006.

Zubiri distributed relief goods in Libon town on the third week of March, while Honasan was in the province early last week to attend a workshop on the protection and preservation of the environment.

Bicol experienced continuous heavy rains from February 14 to the third week of March.

Zubiri told local reporters that he was surprised to see the Third District of Albay flooded.

“What happened to the P10- billion Care funds?” he asked.

On the other hand, Honasan said he would support Zubiri’s call for a Senate inquiry, saying he would file a resolution calling for an investigation of the use of the Care funds when the Senate resumes sessions after the Holy Week break.

Reports of widespread irregularities in the implementation of Care projects surfaced and even President Arroyo failed to hide her anger during a meeting in Masbate in December, where she assailed the implementation of school building-repair projects by the Department of Education (DepEd).

Of the P10-billion Care funds, however, nearly P5 billion has been allocated for Bicol.

Of the P5 billion allocated to line agencies, the DepEd got P2 billion and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) P1.2 billion.

Albay was given P770 million for the rehabilitation of damaged roads and bridges, and flood-control projects.

Public Works assistant regional director Oscar Cristobal said that of the P770 million, Albay’s three districts were given P170 million each and P260 million was allocated for then-Gov. Fernando Gonzales’s discretionary projects.

Before the release of the P10-billion Care funds, Gonzales assailed the DepEd and DPWH for alleged misuse of funds allocated for the repair of school buildings and dredging projects.

The Bicol Care Commission has reported the completion of almost 100 percent of the projects. The Care funds were released during the May 14, 2007, election campaign period, Malacañang having been able to secure an exemption from the election ban.

Military blamed for rights violations

A fact-finding mission commissioned by an international group to investigate alleged human-rights violations in the country has accused military personnel in the abductions of activists accused of being members or sympathizers of the  New People’s Army (NPA).

THE Armed Forces welcomed on Monday a proposal to integrate members of the New People’s Army (NPA) who have already returned to the fold of law into the military and the police.

POLITICS, politics, politics everywhere has messed up a lot of lives of Filipinos and in the “rice crisis” has again reared its ugly head to stave off additional production of the staple that threatens to increase hunger, already rising from previous years.

LEGAZPI CITY—Two senators have declared that they will seek a Senate inquiry into the alleged misuse of the P10-billion Calamity Assistance Rehabilitation Efforts (Care) funds in the Bicol region.

A LEGISLATOR representing the agricultural sector has asked President Arroyo to certify as urgent two bills which that give more teeth to the antismuggling efforts of the government.

Dumangas, Iloilo—The negative impact of climate change is threatening food security in many countries, specifically agriculture-based economies, international organizations like the United Nations and the World Bank said.

BAGUIO CITY—With the P100-million restoration works done at the Teachers Camp, the Department of Education (DepEd) wants it to become the center for culture and the arts of the North.