2 firms to take care of rehab of typhoon-hit areas

MANILA, Philippines - Two established companies are set to take care of the rehabilitation and recovery efforts in four areas in Leyte, Samar, Iloilo and Northern Cebu which were damaged by Super Typhoon Yolanda, presidential assistant for rehabilitation and recovery Secretary Panfilo Lacson said yesterday.

Lacson, however, refused to identify the two companies, saying he is trying to look for other firms which will also help in the rehabilitation of other areas in the Visayas.

He told dzBB that he is also consulting with experts from the Japan International Cooperation Agency, United Nations Development Program and Presidential Working Unit for Development Monitoring and Control, which led the rehabilitation of Aceh, Indonesia after it was hit by calamity on Boxing Day 2004.

Lacson, who visited Samar and Leyte last week, admitted that the damage left behind by Yolanda is so massive the rehabilitation process will take time.

“In Palo, Leyte, the devastation was 99 percent while in Guiuan, it was 100 percent,” he said.

With the help of the private sector, Lacson said his office has started planning for the rehabilitation of damaged areas.

He said the private sector has the financial capability, management system and auditing rules.

“With the help of the private sector, we will be able to avoid the bureaucratic system in government,” he said.

He added that by January, they will hold a commitment meeting with the private sector to discuss their concrete rehabilitation plan.

No strings attached

Lacson was quick to point out that there will be no strings attached to the assistance coming from the private sector.

“What we want is for the private sector to participate in the rehabilitation process. What we can give them is the potential business opportunity after rehabilitation,” he said.

“There are no strings attached. Not because certain business sectors will help us in the rehabilitation effort, they can ask for something in return. The government will not allow that,” he said.

He also said he would seek a resolution from the government procurement board for an exemption from Republic Act 9184 or the procurement law.

“The guidelines must come from the government while the private sector would implement them,” Lacson said.

He said he will not personally handle funds since almost all companies have their foundations.

“My job is to just coordinate and synchronize the implementation of the rehabilitation program and how to incorporate the private sector,” he said.

Lacson cited the importance of time in attaining their target.

“My worst nightmare is that if a big calamity hits another place in the globe, international humanitarian groups might be forced to leave us and we will be left on our own. We have to speed up the rehabilitation and bring back the livelihood of the people in the affected areas,” he said.

Get-togethers only

Meanwhile, residents of Ormoc, Leyte and other areas badly hit by Yolanda shun the word “party” and instead use “get-together” to describe the annual yearend gatherings that they are holding this Christmas season.

City officials also plan to ban the sale and use of any kind of firecracker or pyrotechnic, citing safety and peace and order concerns as reasons.

But the ordinance, which will reportedly carry hefty fines, will be limited to this year.

More aid coming

Senate President Franklin Drilon has announced that P4 billion has been allocated under the 2014 budget for infrastructure funds for his home province of Iloilo.

“The P4 billion funding for infrastructure projects will properly capacitate the necessary social and economic development programs, especially now that Iloilo faces the great challenge of rehabilitating its disaster-affected areas and citizens,” Drilon said.

He said these infrastructure projects “will not only improve local livelihood, but will also spur economic activity throughout the province.”

On the other hand, about 5,000 families affected by Yolanda are expected to benefit from the P8 million donated by former senator Manuel Villar during his birthday fun run last Dec. 14.

Villar, chairman of the Villar Group of Companies, wrote a check amounting to P8.1 million for the calamity victims as he celebrated his birthday with his employees.

Villar’s group initially raised P814,000 from Vista Land employees who participated in the fun run.

“I was thinking of doubling this amount, but instead of doing so, I will just add another zero,” he said. - With Lalaine Jimenea, Christina Mendez, Edu Punay, Rainier Allan Ronda