More rehab efforts in the north

CEBU, Philippines - The Haiyan/Yolanda Emergency Response Consortium for northern Cebu has allocated more than P40 million for relief operations in Sta. Fe and Madridejos towns in Bantayan Island.

This was confirmed by A2D Project Executive Director Kaira Zoe Alburo during the forum “Towards sustainable Disaster Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Initiatives: Making Communities Disaster Resilient through Multi-Sectoral Collaboration” yesterday.

Alburo said they target to give food packs worth P4,000 each to 12,000 families. They have already reached out to 9,000 families and will continue the operation today. 

The group’s primary funding partner is Caritas Switzerland.

Lihok Pilipina Executive Director Tessie Fernandez said each relief pack contains 10 kilos of rice, 15 mixed canned goods, one kilo of sugar, one kilo of mangoes, one can biscuits, water container, flashlight with battery, bucket, four packs of napkin, one family sized toothpaste, five tooth brushes, two pairs of slippers, tarpaulin with 30 meter rope, hand saw, one hammer, and one kilo of nail.

Caritas Switzerland, in cooperation with the A2D Project, Lihok Pilipina, Pagtambayayong Foundation, and Philippine Partnership for the Development of Human Resources in Rural Areas (PHILDHRRA) also presented thematic issues for rehabilitation and reconstruction initiatives.

They said it is important to make communities resilient and to strengthen the commitment of Civil Society Organizations’ (CSO), Local Government Units, and other stakeholders in rebuilding sustainable, disaster resilient communities.

 â€œBisan nga one month na nga niagi si Yolanda, people have not come back to their ordinary livelihood activities… we wanted to maintain families and make them establish their own abilities back to normal pre-disaster situation,” said PHILDHRRA Regional Coordinator Luchie Blanco.

Pagtambayayong Foundation Executive Director Salvador Yolola said her group has also proposed a ‘banker room’ that can withstand strong winds.

“Like houses in Batanes, stone houses, but kani this is not a house, it’s only a room nga kon naay disaster, they can go to that room, and they can be safe to that room,” Yolola said.

One room is worth P5,000 and any LGU who will coordinate with the group can avail of it.

Former San Francisco, Camotes Vice Mayor Alfredo Arquillano believes education remains key and that the level of awareness among residents needs to be augmented.

“Ang level of awareness, dapat gyod patas-an na, nga mahibaw-an sa tao, kon unsay angay niyang mahibaw-an,” Arquillano said. He credits the town’s zero casualty rate to its annual typhoon drill.

“Nindot ang pagpadagan sa evacuation namo kay sa regular drills nga gipahinungod sa typhoon nga among naagian, dili lang siya ordinary nga drill kay ang kada pamilya, magdala og mga pagkaon,” Arquillano said.

On the other hand, Madridejos Mayor Salvador dela Fuente emphasized the importance of preserving mangrove areas. “Dapat ang mangroves area dili hilabtan kay they would be help for the protection of our place.”

Representatives of several civil society organizations and local government units attended the forum and signed a commitment to undertake sustainable, disaster resilient and participatory rehabilitation and reconstruction initiatives.

Sta. Fe Mayor Jose Esgana, for his part, commended the Bantayan Electric Company (BANELCO) for keeping its word to provide electricity to the main roads.

“Ang promise nga before Christmas nga butangan og suga natuman na pero ang reconnections sa mga barangay, siguro maabot pa sa one to two months, nga ma-reconnect sa mga balay ang kuryente,” he said.

Seaweed, Aquafarm

Meanwhile, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) will release P27 million for its Seaweed and Aquafarm Rehabilitation Program in areas ravaged by Yolanda.

BFAR also expressed willingness to extend technical assistance, as stipulated in the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) it inked the provincial government. Under the MOA, BFAR “shall assign technical staff to the committee to be created to supervise and monitor the project, as well as to assess in the actual project implementation.”

Further, BFAR “shall accept terminal report from the province reflecting the actual expenses from the amount transferred and received.” The auditing of the liquidation documents will also be considered in adherence with existing accounting rules and Commission on Audit (COA) regulations.

The MOA also directs the local government units to administer and disburse funds according to the agreed work and financial plan and accounting and auditing policies. The LGU will also have a 20 percent counterpart to cover the administrative operations and other incidental expenses “in cash or in kind.”

Likewise, the LGUs shall create a Project Implementation Committee to supervise and monitor the implementation of the project. They should also prepare and submit a liquidation report audited by the resident auditor and to “return any unspent portion of the amount extended,” the MOA reads.

The implementation committee will be composed of the Governor, BFAR regional director, Provincial Agriculturist, Provincial Fisheries Officer and Mayors of the recipient towns.

Provincial Agriculturist Office head Roldan Saragena said that this would be very helpful to the province particularly the areas in northern Cebu where livelihood was greatly affected. – (FREEMAN)