Manila: A P170.9 billion, comprehensive rehabilitation and recovery plan was submitted for President Benigno Aquino’s approval, more than nine months after Haiyan ravaged the central Philippines.
Panfilo Lacson, Presidential assistant for Rehabilitation and Recovery submitted the P170.9 billion (Dh11.57 billion) Yolanda (Haiyan) Comprehensive Rehabilitation and Recovery Plan to Aquino on Friday.
Lacson stressed that the P170.9 billion will not come from foreign or private donors but from government funds.
He said the plan highlights four basic sectors that have to be addressed — livelihood, resettlement, social services, and infrastructure — in areas devastated by Haiyan last year.
Haiyan struck the Philippines on November 8, causing large-scale destruction in Central and Western Visayas, Palawan and parts of Southern Luzon regions. The death toll from the disaster was placed at more than 6,300 with more than 23 million affected.
The scope and gravity of the typhoon devastation shocked the Philippines as well as other countries.
Days before Haiyan was expected to arrive, the government made massive preparations — getting together relief supplies and getting people ready. All these efforts were made redundant by the overwhelming strength of the typhoon, which most Filipinos had never seen in modern times.
Immediately after the typhoon struck, the international community jump-started efforts to get the country back on its feet. Now the Philippines is paying back this favour by showing it can stand up to the challenge of recovery so that its efforts could serve as a model for other disaster-prone countries.
According to Lacson, the plan would also address issues such as disaster preparedness, climate change adaptation, and environmental concerns, among others.
The former senator said the projected amount that would be spent on rehabilitation and recovery would come from the national government.
He said the Budget Department could provide an initial P137 billion of the total P170.9 billion this year, while the balance could be included in the 2015 or 2016 budget.
“We are expecting that before President Aquino ends his six year term of office in 2016, we would have already accomplished 80 to 85 per cent of the rehabilitation and recovery undertakings,” Lacson said.
The government should now carry out a massive infusion of resources, Lacson said, adding that he will also recommend to the President to allow capable municipalities to start their reconstruction initiatives.
Lacson said that recruitment of engineers who will take part in the construction efforts would be undertaken with assistance from the UN and the United States Agency for International Development or Usaid.
Earlier, international donors and concerned local groups aired apprehensions that local officials would use the rehabilitation efforts to make kickbacks.
With the recovery and rehabilitation plan already submitted to Aquino, it is now in the hands of the President to approve this programme and allot funds to put it into action.
