P17.7B released for ‘Yolanda’-hit areas, says DBM

MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) on Monday announced that it has already released P17.69 billion for the rehabilitation of areas ravaged by Super Typhoon “Yolanda.”

“The extent to which the typhoon struck down economic activity in several parts of the Visayas will have serious implications on the country’s growth agenda…Public expenditure in 2014 will therefore respond both to the common development needs of the country’s broader population, as well as the extraordinary requirements of typhoon survivors as they rebuild their lives and communities,” DBM Secretary Florencio Abad said in a statement.

Of the P17.69 billion, P5.72 billion was spent on the rehabilitation of public infrastructure while P2.2 billion was allotted for permanent housing units.

Abad said adequate shelter assistance was among the “more critical components in long-term rehabilitation.

“We want to prevent future calamities from reaching the scale of Yolanda’s tragic aftermath by rebuilding communities on safer ground,” he added.

Almost one billion pesos was provided for the temporary employment of displaced families while P1.88 billion was allotted for food distribution and supplementary feeding activities.

Among the public infrastructure restored were power distribution units under the National Electrification Administration (P3.93 billion), generation facilities under the National Power Corporation (P101.2 million), transmission facilities under the National Transmission Corporation (P1.5 billion), and local water systems through the Local Water Utilities Administration (P77 million).

Meanwhile, P1 billion was allocated for education and health services and another P2 billion for local government services.

The provision of rice and corn seeds, fishing equipment, and farm implements were included in the P2.87 billion fund for agriculture and fisheries in the affected areas.