PNoy approves P12B north Cebu rehab plan

CEBU, Philippines - Almost nine months after super typhoon Yolanda devastated northern Cebu, the P12-billion rehabilitation plan of the Province of Cebu has finally been approved by President Benigno Aquino III.

`This was confirmed in a text message sent by the Office of the Presidential Assistant for Rehabilitation and Recovery, headed by former senator Panfilo Lacson, to Cebu Governor Hilario Davide III.

“FYI (for your information), the President (Benigno Simeon Aquino III) has finally approved the implementation of your submitted or vetted LGU (Local government unit) rehab plans last Friday. He will announce it in his SONA speech tomorrow (yesterday),” read the text message.

“This means that the DBM (Department of Budget and Management can now release all the funds that we requested to implement PPAs in your area. Thank God and thank you for your cooperation,” the message added.

Baltazar Tribunalo Jr., head of the Capitol’s Task Force Paglig-on, a group mandated by the provincial government to supervise and monitor rehabilitation efforts in northern Cebu, said the team would still watch over the implementation of rehabilitation projects to prevent duplication of projects.

He added the fund would be coursed through national agencies and clusters where the needs in typhoon-ravaged areas in Cebu belong.

“Inig release ana, i-determine na unsa nga specific program, sa Department of Agriculture ba, sa shelter cluster or infrastructure, or Department of Education para sa school buildings. Moagi pa gyud sa national agencies,” he said.

Tribunalo said it would be ideal if some funds would be given directly to the local government units.

“Akong suggestion kung ginagmay lang diretso na sa LGUs. This will measure the capability of our municipalities,” he said, adding that the release of the rehabilitation fund would come in tranches from 2014 to 2016.

The rehabilitation plan of the province was submitted to the OPARR on April 2.

Last May 30, cabinet members and PARR Chief Panfilo Lacson signed the rehabilitation plans for areas ravaged by super typhoon Yolanda last year, including Cebu’s.

Of the P12 billion, over P6 billion is needed for the shelter and relocation of typhoon victims. The amount covers site development, water, sanitation and hygiene facilities, costs of the shelters, acquisition and power.

Aside from that, around P700 million is 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, among others.

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

During his State of the Nation Address yesterday, Aquino failed to mention the approval of the rehabilitation plans.

He said, though, that the rehabilitation plans were scrutinized and passed through the thorough scrutiny of the cabinet members. (FREEMAN)