‘Realistic’ P10.5B rehab plan submitted to Lacson

CEBU, Philippines - Almost five months after super typhoon Yolanda wreaked havoc in northern Cebu, the provincial government has officially submitted to the national government its rehabilitation and recovery plan for the typhoon-stricken area of the province.

Baltazar Tribunalo Jr., who heads the Task Force Paglig-on, a group directed by Cebu Governor Hilario Davide III to plan and monitor the rehabilitation efforts in northern Cebu, said the P10.5 rehab plan was officially sent on Wednesday to the Office of the Presidential Assistant for Rehabilitation and Recovery headed by former senator Panfilo Lacson.

Over P6.6 billion in investment, which is more than half of the rehab plan, is needed for the shelter and relocation of the typhoon victims in northern Cebu, as reported in the latest rehabilitation and recovery plan of the province.

The amount covers the site development, water, sanitation and hygiene facilities, and costs of shelter, acquisition and power.

Aside from the shelter sector, more than P690 million investment requirement is intended for the utilities, P874 million for social infrastructures, P1.7 billion for livelihood and emergency employment  and social development, and P175 million for capacity building and trainings on disaster preparedness.

Tribunalo explained the planning took long to ensure “quality” in the rehabilitation of the typhoon-stricken areas in the north.

“Bisan unsaon nato pagpanindot sa mga butang, kung quality man gyud, it would really take time,” he said.

Official data revealed Yolanda’s onslaught left 103,831 houses mildly and severely damaged in this part of the province.

The report also showed the amount of damage to other sectors which was pegged at P4.4 billion.

Davide disclosed that the assistance would come in tranches.

Earlier, he decided to cut the initial rehab budget of P26 billion by about half in order to be “realistic.”

Task Force Paglig-on further reported the province has contributed P286.6 million to the rehab plan while the national government agencies shelled out P2 billion.

Rehabilitation czar Lacson earlier made a pronouncement the funds are already available for release.

He said the rehabilitation plan can be “fully implemented” depending on the local governments’ submission of the post-disaster needs assessment. (FREEMAN)