Finish repair of structures by December, LGUs in ‘Yolanda’-hit areas urged

TACLOBAN CITY—Local government units (LGUs) that received funds to repair public structures damaged during the onslaught of Supertyphoon “Yolanda” have until the year-end to finish the work.

“They have to complete the repair by Dec. 31. Otherwise, we will withdraw the (unutilized) money,” said Pedro Noval, regional director of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).

In Central Visayas, 61 towns and cities received P938.4 million in financial assistance from the DILG Recovery Assistance on Yolanda program.

Tacloban, considered the Ground Zero of Yolanda, received the highest amount at P230 million.

Among the public structures that should be repaired under this financial assistance are the public market, municipal or city hall and civic centers like an astrodome.

Records from the DILG 8 office showed that only nine LGUs were able to complete the repair of their public structures—two in Biliran province and seven towns and one city in Leyte.