Palace vows improved “Yolanda” rehab amid Lacson’s frustration

Secretary Panfilo Lacson. INQUIRER.net FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines – Malacañang on Thursday was unflustered by Secretary Panfilo Lacson’s complaint that two Cabinet members have been giving him a hard time amid the rehabilitation of areas devastated by Super Typhoon “Yolanda” (international name: Haiyan).

“Hindi natitinag ang determinasyon ng pamahalaan na isakatuparan ang komprehensibong rehabilitasyon batay sa Post Disaster Needs Assessment sa bawa’t lalawigan, bayan at siyudad na apektado ng ‘Yolanda’,” Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said in a text message to media.

(The government’s determination to achieve comprehensive rehabilitation, based on the Post Disaster Needs Assessment, in every province, town and city affected by “Yolanda” is unwavering.)

It was in reaction to Lacson’s press conference on Wednesday, when the former senator mentioned that there were two secretaries who weren’t coordinating and responding to him.

Lacson is the Presidential Assistant for Rehabilitation and Recovery (PARR) and was tasked to coordinate with the agencies responsible for the rehabilitation of “Yolanda”-hit provinces.

Instead, Coloma promised that the Executive will strive to improve the coordination and implementation of the rehabilitation program based on the lessons they’ve learned in the last six months.

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