ONE HUNDRED days after Supertyphoon “Yolanda,” the alliance for Yolanda victims People Surge marched toward Mendiola Bridge to protest their continuing neglect by the Aquino administration. NIÑO JESUS ORBETA
SAN REMIGIO, Cebu— Local officials of provinces hit by Supertyphoon “Yolanda” will have to wait longer before the rehabilitation of affected areas goes into full swing.
Presidential assistant for rehabilitation and recovery Panfilo Lacson told reporters on Saturday that the target date for the full implementation of rehabilitation projects is June this year since they were still waiting for the postdamage needs assessments (PDNAs) of the affected provinces.
The deadline for the submission of all PDNAs is April 21, said Lacson, who was here to witness the groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of 200 classrooms to be built by Aboitiz Foundation in the towns of San Remegio, Medellin and Daanbantayan and in Bogo City, all in northern Cebu province.
Lacson sought understanding, saying they were merely complying with the provisions of the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010 (Republic Act No. 10121) that require the submission of all PDNAs before a master rehabilitation plan could be formulated.
“We in the government already anticipated the gaps … not because we are too slow [because of] lack of funds. There are funds but there are international protocols to be followed. Plus, we need to follow the law,” he said.
Lacson said he would recommend to President Aquino to allow northern Cebu and Leyte province to proceed with the rehabilitation phase since these areas had already submitted their PDNAs.
Such a move, he added, would also encourage local officials to be “proactive enough in submitting their needs, damage assessments and also their rehabilitation plans.”
But Lacson said some local officials had conducted their own “packets of rehabilitation” while waiting for the national government. He cited the cases of northern Cebu, Leyte and Samar areas.
He said he recently went to Tacloban City, which has changed since he went there on Dec. 13, 2013.
Lacson said the private sector was needed to address the gaps since the implementation of the rehabilitation plans would take time.
On Saturday, Lacson was set to meet with the Department of Agrarian Reform and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources during a cluster Cabinet meeting to discuss how they could assist in identifying government-owned lots that could be used as relocation sites for Yolanda survivors.
During the round table discussion on Friday, some northern Cebu mayors asked the national government to buy the lots that would serve as relocation sites for displaced typhoon survivors.
Pilar Mayor Jesus Fernandez pointed out it was “easier to provide houses but difficult to purchase the lots.”
Eight mayors attended the round table discussion with Task Force Paglig-on, Cebu’s rehabilitation group, and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.
They were from the towns of Sogod, Sta. Fe, Daanbantayan, San Remegio, Madridejos, Pilar, Tuburan and Poro.
Sta. Fe Mayor Jose Esgana said a 2.3-hectare lot had been identified as a relocation site, but his town could not purchase it due to limited funds.