LGUs commit funds for relief, rehab operations

By: Tina Arceo-Dumlao - 11 years ago

MANILA, Philippines—An unprecedented disaster needs an unprecedented response.

And local government units have done just that through several joint initiatives, among them committing their calamity funds for the relief and rehabilitation of towns and cities hardest hit by Supertyphoon “Yolanda” in Eastern Visayas and adopting the storm-battered barangays as they get back on their feet.

In a memorandum circular set to be issued by the Department of the Interior and Local Government, the Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines (Ulap) urged the Commission on Audit (COA) to expedite the release and distribution of disaster funds for the affected local government units (LGUs), particularly those in Leyte, Samar and Eastern Samar provinces, which bore the brunt of Yolanda’s fury.

The group also urged the COA to allow the unaffected LGUs to use their calamity funds and quick response funds to extend full support to the ravaged LGUs.

Adoption program

In a meeting with civil society and relief organizations at the Inquirer Makati head office yesterday, Ulap executive director Sonia Lorenzo said the group had resolved to secure the listing of LGUs categorized under “Emergency,” “Recovery” and “Rehabilitation” from the Office of Civil Defense as part of its adoption program.

Ulap adopted the resolutions on Wednesday following a joint meeting with the League of Provinces of the Philippines, the League of Cities of the Philippines and the League of Municipalities of the Philippines.

The Metro Manila Council, composed of 17 mayors from the National Capital Region, has agreed to implement the adopt-a-municipality program during the same meeting.

Quezon City has committed to adopt Palompon, Tolosa and Santa Fe towns in Leyte, while Pasig City will take care of Mayorga and Palo in Leyte, as well as Barotac Viejo, Barotac Nuevo and Dumangas towns in Iloilo province. Mandaluyong City will take Isabel and Tanauan towns, Leyte, under its wing, while Marikina City will adopt Hernani and Llorente towns, Eastern Samar. Ormoc City and Albuera town, Leyte, will be cared for by San Juan City.

MacArthur, Guiuan, Salcedo, Mercedes and Quinapondan towns in Eastern Samar were considered adoptees of Taguig City, while Las Piñas City will take care of Julita and Dulag towns, Leyte. Caloocan City will help Javier, MacArthur and La Paz towns in Leyte, while Malabon City will take care of Bogo City, Cebu province. Navotas City, meanwhile, will help Lawaan and Giporlos towns in Eastern Samar. Valenzuela City was assigned Basey and Marabut towns in Samar, while the Metro Manila Development Authority will take care of Coron town, Palawan province, and Sulat town, Eastern Samar.

Samar Rep. Mel Senen S. Sarmiento, who was appointed point person for Yolanda response in Samar by Interior Secretary Mar Roxas, said that under the adoption program, LGUs spared by the supertyphoon would “foot the bill” racked up by the adopted towns as they get back on their feet.

Sarmiento said a town needing 50 bags of cement for rehabilitation, for instance, could get the goods from a designated dealer with the adopting LGU paying for them.

Severely stricken

“We will categorize the affected areas into those that are severely stricken [and] still in need of emergency response and those that are already in the recovery phase so that donors and local governments would know what they need,” Sarmiento said.

“More funds [are] needed for the rehabilitation work,” he added.

Sarmiento said local governments in towns and cities near the severely affected areas in Leyte, Eastern Samar and Samar had also embarked on programs to help their neighbors, such as setting up communal kitchens and opening their ports to hasten the distribution of badly needed relief items.

There has never been a more extensive cooperation effort among local governments, he said, adding that this was in fact the minimum required, considering the huge task ahead of rebuilding the ravaged towns and cities.