Pinoy UN expert heads Cebu rehab task force

Cebu Gov. Hilario Davide III yesterday appointed an internationally renowned disaster preparedness expert to head the province’s task force on rehabilitation and reconstruction.

Baltazar Tribunalo was part of the United Nation’s team that followed the 2004 tsunami in Indonesia, and other calamities in Cambodia and Myanmar.

“He’s an expert on disaster preparedness and is connected with OCHA (Office for the Coordination of Human Affairs),” the governor told reporters yesterday.

“Mr. Tribunalo is one of the key persons in the UN on disaster preparedness and climate change,” he added.

Davide signed the executive order on Tuesday creating Task Force Paglig-on to coordinae post-Yolanda rehabilitation work in north Cebu.

As the province’s new rehabilitation czar, Tribunalo will steer reconstruction efforts in north Cebu.

He will work with the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council and nine clusters in different sectors

The job was offered to Tribunalo while he was aboard a military helicopter with the governor going to Bantayan Island, a few days after supertyphoon Yolanda struck on Nov. 8.

“I am the head but it’s really not just me but the whole team and the clusters working together,” saud Tribunalo.

“Rehabilitation is not just about the physical aspect, there’s also the human side,” he said.

Risk management

Tribunalo was Plan International’s country program advisor on child-centered climate and disaster risk management.

He said he was also part of the UN’s Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response (IDSR) team that worked after major calamities like the 2004 tsunami in Indonesia and operations in Cambodia and Myanmar.

Tribunalo said the Cebu task force will use a strategic approach that integrates all facets of development, not just the rebuilding of homes.

“Our aim here is not just to return to normalcy. We will come back better after the rehab by implementing policies to be better prepared for the next calamity,” he said.

Yesterday, Tribunalo met taskforce clusters at the Capitol.

They initially talked about the need to centralize information about humanitari aid coming in and available logistics and transportation.

The clusters have government agencies and non-government organizations (NGOs) and foreign groups as members.

Davide said the Capitol task force is expected to link up with former senator Panfilo Lacson, the pointman for post-Yolanda rehabilitation appointed by President Aquino, through Sen. Teofisto “TG” Guingona. Correspondent Peter L. Romanillos