Gov’t eyes early recovery for Yolanda victims

MANILA, Philippines - The government is eyeing an early recovery for the victims of Super Typhoon Yolanda as it expressed confidence that the economy would remain stable amid the spate of calamities that hit the country.

National Economic and Development Authority director general and Socio-Economic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan said earlier that the cost of rebuilding houses, schools, roads and bridges in typhoon-devastated areas in the Visayas could reach P250 billion.

But if the government is successful in deploying resources for post-typhoon reconstruction, Balisacan said the economy might even grow faster as the country’s strong economic fundamentals remain intact.

Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said the transfer of affected families from tents and evacuation centers to temporary bunkhouses “signals the transition from relief to early recovery and reconstruction.”

As directed by President Aquino, Coloma said the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) began construction of bunkhouses in identified sites in Tacloban, Palo, and Ormoc in Leyte, and Basey and Marabut in Samar over the weekend.

Starting Monday, construction of bunkhouses began in Guiuan, Hernani and Borongan in Samar, Coloma said.

At least 2,400 families will be resettled in this first phase, Coloma said, adding that in coordination with the local governments, DPWH has begun site preparation in identified resettlement areas to facilitate transfer to the bunkhouses.

“DPWH is also preparing sufficient stocks of construction materials such as coco lumber, wooden frames and GI sheet roofing for distribution to thousands of affected families with partially damaged houses, so they may return to their homes as soon as possible,” Coloma said.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), for its part, said they have submitted its plan to restore mangrove and beach forests along the coastline in the Eastern Visayas region to protect communities against the devastating effects of future storms.

The restoration will cover some 380 kilometers of coastline in Eastern Visayas that will include Leyte and all other portions ravaged by Yolanda.

Livelihood

As the people of Leyte and Samar started to resettle and rebuild their homes, Coloma added “they are now being mobilized to participate in the reconstruction efforts under the cash-for-work or food-for-work programs.”

DENR Secretary Ramon Paje said a massive tree-planting activity under the government’s National Greening Program would take place in coastal areas affected by the storm to provide livelihood to residents and allow them to take part in building a “green wall” against storm surges. – With Mayen Jaymalin, Aie Balagtas-See, AP