Mayor wants NGO probed

SANTA Fe Mayor Jose Esgana is calling on the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD-7) in the region to investigate an alleged “bogus” nongovernment organization (NGO) currently operating in the town for post-Yolanda rehabilitation efforts.

In a phone interview yesterday, Esgana aired his concern over brochures of the Young Pioneer Disaster Response (YPDR) that used photos of relief assistance given by other NGOs during the wake of the supertyphoon.

He said the NGO has been “falsely claiming the rehabilitation projects” of other local and foreign aid groups to entice potential donors.

“That is their biggest lie. They are not even a legitimate organization,” said Esgana, referring to YPDR’s claim of building close to 600 houses in Bantayan Island after the storm.

However, YPDR president Chris White quickly dismissed the allegations and said they have supporting documents to support their claims.

In their website ypdr.org, YPDR said they have partnered with Polish Humanitarian Action (PAH), a foreign NGO, and has provided them funding for their operations.

Their website also posted that they had received a total of $71,538 in donations.

The organization said they have repaired 10 classrooms in Santa Fe National High School, the town’s elementary school and other schools located in other barangays of Sta. Fe, Bantayan and Madridejos town.

Aside from that, YPDR claims to have built 582 homes, distributed housing materials for 890 homes and constructed six model houses in barangays Sungko, Kabangbang, Beigad, Sillon, Kang-Kaibe and Suba.

Esgana said there was no truth in YPDR’s claims, saying the organization came up with a proposed design of the new classrooms for the high school but never acted on it.

Esgana said he also received complaints from resort owners and residents that the YPDR members are often spotted at the island’s streets at the wee hours of night, intoxicated.