Aquino confident Lacson will accomplish Visayas rehab sooner than expected

President Benigno Aquino III (AP Photo/Malacanang Photo Bureau, Robert Vinas)

MANILA, Philippines — President Benigno Aquino III expressed optimism, on Tuesday, that the rehabilitation of communities hit by supertyphoon “Yolanda” (Haiyan) would be realized “sooner” than initially expected with his appointment of former Senator Panfilo Lacson as his main man for the job.

“Having Ping Lacson at the center wherein he’s a no-nonsense guy, focused solely on Yolanda rehabilitation, will undoubtedly achieve the targets sooner,” he said during the Bulong Pulungan forum in Pasay City.

“And that is, I guess, why we look at the unique capabilities of Mr. Lacson or Senator Lacson to be able to deliver.”

Aquino tapped Lacson to lead the rehabilitation efforts amid massive donations pouring in from the international community.

The President again expressed gratitude for the assistance, including those coming from Filipino communities abroad. He cited the case of some 750,000 Filipinos in Canada who pitched in for typhoon victims back home.

“We really feel the sympathy of so many countries around the world, including our communities outside of our country,” he said.

As of Tuesday, the government listed a total of P22.07 billion in foreign aid pledged by different countries. The total amount of assistance actually received stood at P531.1 million, according to the Foreign Aid Transparency Hub.

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