The United Opposition (UNO) urged on Friday executives of local government units (LGUs) to “come to each other’s aid” during these times of crisis since Malacañang’s response to the wrath of tropical storm “Ondoy” appeared to be a failure.

Reacting to Palace statement that the national calamity fund of P2 billion was already depleted, UNO president and Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay said local governments should help each other because calamity-stricken localities are finding it hard to depend on national government assistance.

Binay even scored the Palace for appealing to LGUs to use their own funds to handle calamities in their areas.

“Even before Malacañang made the appeal, the Makati City Council has passed a resolution in a special session last Monday allotting P15 million to aid localities placed under a state of calamity. (Apparently), there is a perceived breakdown in national government response. What you are seeing are private and local government initiatives to assist the victims. This is the time for local governments to come to each other’s aid,” he said.

Aside from the Makati City Council, the legislative bodies of Davao and Iloilo province have also approved a resolution allotting a portion of their calamity funds for relief assistance. Davao Mayor Rodrigo Duterte and Iloilo Gov. Niel Tupas also sent financial and material aid to calamity victims in Metro Manila and are also mobilizing doctors and medical teams to fly to Metro Manila.

“The administration appears to be portraying itself as a victim of unforeseen events. But it cannot escape accountability for the breakdown in national government response. It is incumbent on government to always be in a state of preparedness,” Binay said.

To compensate for the depletion of national calamity fund, the mayor urged the Palace to use the President’s discretionary funds to augment the national government’s relief operations.

“Mrs. Arroyo has enough pork barrel funds which can be used to respond to this crisis. Rather than continue using her pork barrel to reward her political favorites, she should use them to provide immediate relief for the people,” he added.