Piecemeal rehab of ‘Yolanda’-hit areas to begin

Panfilo Lacson. KRISTINE SABILLO/INQUIRER.net file photo

MANILA, Philippines—President Aquino has approved his own proposal to start implementing the government’s rehabilitation program even if not all areas devastated by Super Typhoon “Yolanda” have completed their master plans, according to Presidential Assistant on Rehabilitation Panfilo Lacson.

Lacson said the President had approved “in principle” his recommendation for a piecemeal implementation of rehabilitation plans “instead of waiting for all 171 cities and municipalities, which will surely delay the rehabilitation process.”

By not waiting for all rehabilitation plans to be ready before actual work could begin, Lacson said he wanted to “incentivize the proactive local executives and at the same time motivate the laggards.”

A “signing” ceremony has been scheduled in Cebu Friday on the final rehabilitation programs for Leyte, Eastern Samar, Western Samar, Cebu and Tacloban City.

During the ceremony, the heads of the Cabinet clusters concerned would “sign off” on documents pertaining to the five areas’ respective rehabilitation plans, said Lacson.

“Thereafter, the President is expected to approve the implementation of those plans,” he told the Inquirer in a text message Thursday.

“I’m confident that full implementation will follow immediately after tomorrow’s signing-off ceremony,” he said.

Once the rehabilitation plans are approved, “massive infusion of resources,” at least in Cebu, Leyte, Western and Eastern Samar and Tacloban City, could begin by the middle of June, said Lacson.

“I expect that the rest of the other provinces and municipalities along the Yolanda corridor will also present for vetting their rehabilitation plans,” he said.

Lacson said the plans would not be limited to the construction of permanent housing units and schoolbuildings but would cover “the whole gamut” of the government’s build-back-better strategy.—Christian V. Esguerra