With the amount of P105 billion: Cabinet approves rehab plans for Yolanda areas

CEBU, Philippines - Cabinet members have approved yesterday the rehabilitation plans for areas ravaged by supertyphoon Yolanda last year.

The rehabilitation plans for the provinces of Samar, Leyte and Cebu and the city of Tacloban were signed by Presidential Assistant for Rehabilitation and Recovery Panfilo Lacson and some members of the Cabinet.

The signatories include Secretary Arsenio Balisacan of the National Economic and Development Authority, Department of Budget and Management Sec. Florencio Abad, Department of Public Works and Highways Sec. Rogelio Singson, Department of Social Welfare Development Sec. Corazon Soliman, Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council Sec. Cicilia Alba and Department of Trade and Industry Undersecretary Zenaida Maglaya.

Lacson said the rehabilitation plans are now set for review and approval of President Benigno Aquino III.

It was also reported yesterday that the national government has allocated a total of P105 billion for the rehabilitation of typhoon-stricken areas.

At least P7 billion is appropriated for the rehabilitation of Samar, P25 billion for Tacloban City, P22 billion for Leyte and P12.2 billion for Cebu.

Cebu's recovery budget was earlier pegged at P10 billion. But Gov. Hilario Davide III explained that there were additional data submitted by affected local government units in northern Cebu which led to the increase of the figure.

The Task Force Paglig-on, a group mandated by the Capitol to monitor the rehabilitation efforts in the province, collated the data based on the Post-disaster Needs Assessment submitted by the affected towns.

"Mi-increase kay diha man gud uban mayors nga gitawag ni Mr. Tribunalo unya dihay nalimtan pero giapas ra," Davide said.

Of the amount, P6 billion is needed for the shelter and relocation of typhoon victims. The amount covers the site development, water, sanitation and hygiene facilities, and costs of shelter, acquisition and power.

Apart from that, more than P690 million is also intended for 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.

During the signing, the officials discussed the problem on acquisition of lands for relocation sites since most lots are covered by tax declarations.

But National Housing Authority General Manager Chito Cruz disclosed that Sen. Chiz Escudero is willing to sponsor a bill calling for the declaration of identified lands for resettlement as alienable and disposable.

He added that the matter is now being studied by the Department of Justice.

"DOJ is now studying the issue. Baka di natin kailangan dumaan sa Senate at Kongreso or there is way of using it without going through a legislation declaring it alienable and disposable. During the meeting po ng Senate, Sen chiz promised that if we need to go to the Congress and Senate to declare the land alienable and disposable, he will sponsor the bill," he said. —/LPM (FREEMAN)