Tacloban mayor credits Mike Dino on rehab efforts

CEBU, Philippines — Contrary to an earlier complaint filed before the Office of the President against Presidential Assistant for the Visayas Michael Dino, the mayor of Tacloban City is thankful to President Rodrigo Duterte and Dino for the rehabilitation of houses affected by super typhoon Yolanda four years ago.

Mayor Cristina Gonzalez-Romualdez sent a letter to the president to express her gratitude on behalf of her constituents.

"On behalf of the people of Tacloban, I am personally thanking you for the swift action on building the housing for the Yolanda victims and relocation programs," Romualdez’s letter read.

Romualdez said the rehabilitation is now almost complete. As of September 30, there are only remaining 1,811 housing units that are undergoing construction. She said a total of 10,734 units out of 12,545 have been completed.

"I would personally thank you for assigning PA Mike Dino,setting the tone and the pace of the rehabilitation efforts,"Romualdez said.

She added that Dino was able to hurdle the bureaucratic red tape and to mobilize government agencies to accomplish the complex task of making thedifferent agencies work together.

Through Dino's leadership, he was able to facilitate to provide power, water, and transportation facilities in the relocation sites within the shortest time possible.

"The pace he has set in making this move became our benchmark and template implemented to accomplish what we have today," Romualdez said.

Meanwhile, Fr. Jose Elmer Cajilig, co-convenor of Kilusang Pagbabago-Visayas, said that Yolanda survivors are still suffering because of corruption and neglect.

Cajilig said that this is the picture they are getting especially with the investigation in Samar into the alleged anomalies.

The investigation is conducted by the House Committee on Housing headed by Rep. Albee Benitez of Negros Occidental and Rep. Ben Evardone of Eastern Samar.

Cajilig said that there are also complaints reaching to them about the situation in Tacloban City, Panay, and northern Cebu of which KP-Visayas members are deeply concerned.

"It is highly possible that the situation of Yolanda survivors has contributed much to the decline of the net satisfaction rating of President Duterte in the recent SWS survey," Cajilig’s statement read.

Cajilig said that Duterte supporters will look into the situation in the Yolanda-affected areas in Samar, Leyte, Cebu, and Panay to pinpoint problems and recommend solutions.

"We will investigate the corruption and cause of neglect of the Yolanda victims. We will work closely with the appropriate government agencies and will not stop until the root causes are uncovered and prosecuted," he added. (FREEMAN)