THE Office of Civil Defense (OCD) yesterday downplayed recent Commission on Audit (OCD) reports showing low utilization of the agency’s quick reaction and COVID-19 funds, saying the funds are spent based on demand.
COA, in its audit report, said humanitarian and disaster relief funds or quick response fund (QRF) amounting to P174.76 million remained unutilized by OCD regional offices as of yearend 2021. The amount is 25.83 percent of the P676.585 million released last year by the OCD to its 17 regional offices.
COA also reported low utilization of the OCD’s COVID-19 fund. It said only P164.45 million was spent, out of the P247.846 million allotted to OCD regional offices for pandemic response.
OCD Administrator Ricardo Jalad, the concurrent executive director of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, explained that the agency’s main function on humanitarian response is more on handling and movement of supplies from other government agencies.
He said relief supplies, including food, for victims of disasters are mainly provided by the Department of Social Welfare and Development though there are few instances where OCD procure such supplies.
“What we provide is handling, like moving, transportation support. Therefore, our expenses will depend on the bulk of logistics or supplies that will be moved,” said Jalad. “If there is none (supplies to be moved), then we are not going to hire transport (assets).”
He also said OCD only hires private transport assets if military aircraft and vehicles and other assets of government agencies are not available.
“The utilization of quick respond fund of the OCD is demand-driven,” said Jalad, adding the utilization of the OCD COVID-19 fund is also “demand-driven.”
He said the OCD uses its COVID-19 fund to support isolation facilities, including the procurement of food, water for patients and handling of electricity, waste disposal, and sanitation requirements.
Jalad said the fund is also used to shoulder the accommodation of healthcare workers manning isolation facilities.
“If the number of patients in quarantine facilities is reduced, there is also reduction in our expenses…If the LGUs (local government units) won’t request, it (fund) won’t be used,” said Jalad.
Jalad said the OCD is no longer presently supporting any isolation facility, adding LGUs are now able to maintain such facilities using their own funds.
“We assure the public that the Office of Civil Defense is properly using its funds in the delivery of services…It has to be in compliance with the law, in compliance with the procedure,” he said.
