KIDAPAWAN CITY – Cotabato Gov. Jesus Sacdalan is set to use more than 70 percent of the P57 million calamity fund for the relief assistance and rehabilitation of infrastructures damaged by the recent floods.

“The disaster mitigating measures of the provincial government were pegged at P45 million,” Sacdalan said.

It was gathered that the fund is P25 million more than the amount approved by the sangguniang panlalawigan for the assistance.

The provincial council, chaired by Cotabato Vice-Gov. Manny Piñol, in its session last July 28, has given Sacdalan an authority to use P20 million of the province’s approved calamity fund.

Sacdalan, however, is willing to take what he termed as the “executive risks” for using more than the approved amount, which he claimed is only two percent of the total cost of damage brought about by the recent floods.

Reports from the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) said the floods destroyed some P194 million worth of infrastructures, including concrete and bailey bridges, in different towns in North Cotabato, and some P800 million in agriculture.

“As the province’s chief executive officer, I am willing to take the executive risks of using the calamity fund beyond the approved P20 million.

Under the law, I can use three quarters of the calamity fund,” said Sacdalan.

Last week, the council passed a resolution urging Sacdalan and some of those involved in the relief distribution and rehabilitation to appear before the body to explain how the funds were spent.

None, including Sacdalan, appeared before the August body last Tuesday, according to Piñol.

“If these people would continue to ignore our invitations, we might as well file a writ of mandamus to oblige them to attend our legislative inquiries,” said Piñol.