By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) served Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo a 90-day suspension earlier this week over allegations regarding suspected misuse of provincial calamity funds.

According to DILG-Region VI (DILG-7) director, Atty. Rene Burdeos, the suspension came following an order by the Sandiganbayan.

Degamo said he will accept his “temporary fate” and abide by the DILG and Sandiganbayan.

The suspension stems from the alleged misuse of P480.7 million in calamity funds, provided by the national government, for infrastructure projects in 2012, for which the governor was earlier indicated by Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales.

Of the total P980.7 million calamity fund, P480.7 million was released to the provincial government, but on June 19, 2012, Degamo was informed the Special Allotment and Release Order (SARO) was being withdrawn by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) due to the province’s failure to comply with existing guidelines for infrastructure projects.

The allocated budget was supposed to be applied to rehabilitation projects for the province after Negros Oriental was struck by Tropical Storm Sendong in 2011 and the magnitude 6.9 earthquake that followed in 2012.

Negros Oriental Vice Governor Edward Mark Macias has since assumed the post of acting governor, while Provincial Board Member Maria Antonia Villegas was appointed acting vice governor./DGB, WDJ