Tolentino seeks transfer of DILG’s P87.28M resettlement fund to new housing department

MANILA – Administration Sen. Francis Tolentino has suggested the realignment of the multi-million resettlement funds placed under the proposed P243-billion budget for the Department of Interior and Local Government’s (DILG) for 2021.

During DILG’s budget deliberations on Thursday, Tolentino called the attention of Interior Secretary Eduardo Año since a portion of the agency’s allocation is “beyond the purview” of its competency and must be reallocated to the newly created Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD).

Tolentino was referring to the agency’s P87.289-million fund for its program on Capacitating Local Government Units (LGUs) on Resettlement Governance or also known as the Resettlement Government Assistance Fund (RGAF).

Tolentino suggested that DILG’s RGAF should be transferred to DHSUD, noting that the program was spearheaded prior to the formal creation of the housing department and only creates duplication and redundancy of tasks.

“Isn’t it the function of the NHA (National Housing Authority)?” Tolentino asked Año.

Following the formal establishment of DHSUD, NHA was formally transferred in the said department.

For his part, Año agreed with Tolentino’s proposal, saying he’s in favor of realigning RGAF to DHSUD but insisted that the said funds are not solely for relocation but also include other programs for governance reforms and resettlement matters.

Meanwhile, Tolentino also emphasized the need to realign the more than P10-million Muslim Resettlement Relocation Services Fund from DILG to DHSUD for the war-torn Marawi City.

The senator noted that Housing Sec. Eduardo Del Rosario’s confirmation before the powerful Commission on Appointments (CA) is currently “hanging in the balance” due to his department’s alleged non-focus or lack of resources as far as housing is concerned. (JCC)

Source: Latest Politics News Today (Politics.com.ph)