Two towns top priority for aid

CEBU, Philippines - The United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef) is prioritizing two northern Cebu towns as recipients of its assistance, after naming them as places severely damaged by super typhoon Yolanda.

It has identified the towns of Daanbantayan and Bantayan as well as 38 other municipalities and cities that were heavily affected by Yolanda severely damaged by super typhoon Yolanda.

Daanbantayan and Bantayan, though, would be the top priority areas to receive Unicef help.

Zafrin Chowdhury, UNICEF chief of communication and private fundraising, said their office would specifically focus on children affected by the typhoon under their Strategic Response Plan, which defines five strategic interventions.

The interventions are child protection, health, nutrition, water and sanitation, and children’s education.

“We are not much on rebuilding houses but UNICEF, together with the local government units, would be focusing more on these five interventions,” Chowdhury said.

UNICEF and mayors of the 40 chosen municipalities and cities have come together yesterday for the “Partnership Conference for the Yolanda Emergency Response.”

“We have much to do. This is not just about recovery but it’s all about being resilient and learning the lessons for the next time,” said UNICEF representative Angela Kearney, after the signing of the memorandum of understanding.

Chowdhury said implementation of the interventions would start as soon as possible and is expected to be done in 12 to 18 months.

“We are looking forward to this. This is a big help in our municipality and to my constituents,” said Daanbantayan Mayor Augusto Corro.

He said that considering how devastated his town was, they welcome any help as long as it is for his people.

For his part, Bantayan Mayor Ian Escario said he was thankful for the UNICEF support.

“Considering nga daghan sad mga munisipyo nga grabe sad gyud ang ilang (that there are other municipalities that were likewise heavily) damaged, we are still thankful nga napili ang (they chose) Bantayan nga tabangan sa (to get the help from) UNICEF,” Escario said.

Chowdhury said other towns or cities that were also affected by the typhoon would still be given assistance.

The 40 towns and cities they have identified, however, would be their top priority.

The two-day conference, which ends today, aims to orient participants on the National Government’s reconstruction assistance for UNICEF’s school rehabilitation program.

It was also meant to orient local government units (LGUs) on key Unicef interventions for children, share experiences on Yolanda response among LGUs and project cooperation arrangement partners, and identify needed priority activities.

It also aimed to formalize the partnership between LGUs and Unicef and orient participants on Unicef’s partnership modalities during emergencies. —(FREEMAN)