Aquino calls for Cabinet meeting to solve delays in Yolanda rehabilitation

President Benigno Aquino III. AP FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines – President Benigno Aquino III is set to call a Cabinet meeting this week, following an “honest and frank” meeting with his top rehabilitation official over problems besetting government efforts to help victims of Super Typhoon “Yolanda” (Haiyan) get back on their feet.

In a meeting last Thursday, Secretary Panfilo Lacson also informed the President about two Cabinet secretaries allegedly giving him headaches in the rehabilitation efforts.

“I told him how important or vital the roles of these two Cabinet secretaries are in the rehabilitation efforts,” he said in a radio interview, without naming the officials.

“The effort would not be completed if these two members of Cabinet would not cooperate.”

After “taking note” of his concerns, as well as recommendations on how to speed up rehabilitation in areas devastated by “Yolanda,” Aquino decided to hold a Cabinet meeting on the matter, Lacson said.

A major concern for Lacson was the Post-Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA) required under the law. It took a while before the Office of Civil Defense could come up with the voluminous document and it was yet to be evaluated by the Cabinet and ultimately, approved by the President.

“Perhaps we cannot wait for the master rehabilitation plan because [efforts] are being delayed precisely because the official PDNA is not yet available,” he said.

During the meeting, Lacson said he asked Aquino if his office could already proceed with rehabilitation based on plans submitted by individual provinces or cities.

Already available were those of Cebu and Leyte, while Tacloban City presented its own rehabilitation plan last Saturday, he said.

“If we really want to start implementing, we should really do it…not piece-meal,” said Lacson, who was eyeing June or early July as the start of the actual government rehabilitation project on a “massive scale.”

Lacson also suggested to the President that he issue proclamations so that lands under public domain could be used for resettlement of families previously living in danger zones.

“When I told him about the problems, I also presented solutions,” he recalled. “After we talked, I respect him much, much more now because of how our discussion went.”