Building shelters for ‘Yolanda’ victims to take 3 years—DPWH chief

AP File Photo

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Public Works and Highways will need at least P15 billion for the construction of temporary shelters for the survivors of Supertyphoon “Yolanda” in Eastern Visayas and Secretary Rogelio Singson believes putting up all of the structures would take up to three years.

Singson said in a television interview Monday night that some of the money would be used to purchase construction materials his agency would provide calamity victims who intend to rebuild their own homes.

“The repair and rehabilitation of roads, bridges, municipal buildings, rural health units, hospitals, schools and other public infrastructures can be completed in one year. But it’s the shelter program that will take some time,” he said, adding, “putting up the bunkhouses and other temporary shelters will most likely take three years, which is fast enough.”

He said the department planned to use prefabricated parts for the temporary housing, which could be dismantled and used again in the future.

He said his department’s “Shelter Action Plan” would require the employment of a lot more construction workers than are currently available.

That is why  the DPWH has asked the Technical Education and Skills  Development Authority (Tesda) to start conducting crash courses on carpentry, equipment operation and other construction-related activities.

“Without these training courses, we might find ourselves short of construction workers,” he said.

At the same time, Singson pushed for the planting of mangroves along the coast in places flattened by storm surges churned up by Yolanda record high winds.

“Those bakawan (mangroves) will be the main protection of residents in the coastal areas in the long run,” he said, adding however that in some areas, people will simply have to be resettled in other places.

“We have defined ‘no-build zones,’ or 40-meter easement areas along the coastal communities. Out of the zones, typhoon survivors can put up their new homes…. We plan to employ some ‘pakiusapan’, if not ‘konting puwersahan’ (persuasion if not force) for hardheaded residents who will insist on rebuilding their homes inside the zones,” Singson said.

He stressed the need for “political will to make things happen,” which he believes is part of the job of former Sen. Panfilo Lacson, the government’s newly appointed “rehabilitation czar” for Eastern Visayas.

Singson welcomed Lacson’s appointment, noting several agencies were involved in the rehabilitation program.

“We have delineated functions. What’s really important is there is someone who will personally supervise the same agencies full time,” Singson said.

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