MALACAÑANG confirmed on Thursday that President Aquino has given the greenlight for a P167.9-billion master plan to rehabilitate 171 cities and towns in 14 provinces ravaged by Typhoon Yolanda.
This developed as Communications Secretary Herminio B. Coloma Jr. cited a report from Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa that the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) had already released an initial P51.98 billion of that amount to bankroll ongoing recovery efforts in at least six affected regions devastated by Yolanda, also known as Typhoon Haiyan, said to be the strongest tropical cyclone that hit the country last November 8.
“Upon the recommendation of the presidential assistant for rehabilitation and recovery [PARR] and the favorable endorsement of the National Economic and Development Authority, the President approved on Wednesday the 8,000-page Yolanda Comprehensive Rehabilitation and Recovery Plan,” a Palace statement said.
It added that the plan “outlines the national government’s commitment to implement over 25,000 rehabilitation and recovery-specific plans and programs and activities [PPAs].”
PARR Secretary Panfilo Lacson explained that the PPAs were envisioned to bring forth the recovery of the 171 affected cities and municipalities in 14 provinces and six regions, collectively known as the “Yolanda corridor,” based on the principle of “build-back-better.”
Lacson added the master plan is focused on “long-term, sustainable efforts to reduce vulnerabilities and strengthen capacities of communities to cope with future hazard events.”
According to Lacson, the PPAs require a total amount of P167.9 billion and aim to restore the following sectors: Infrastructures, which are necessary to sustain economic and social activities in the affected areas; settlements and basic community facilities and services that are more resilient to hazard events; livelihood and continuity of economic activities and business; and resilience and capacities of communities in coping with future hazard events.
Lacson, likewise, gave a breakdown of funding requirement under the Aquino-approved P167.9 billion Yolanda recovery master plan as follows: Infrastructure, P35,148,634,408; Social Services, P26,406,233,815; Resettlement, P75,678,683,100; and Livelihood, P30,631,237,230, adding up to a total funding requirement of P167,864,788,553.
Asked if President Aquino gave specific instructions on how to speed up the Yolanda recovery effort, Palace Spokesman Edwin Lacierda said the master plan, as approved, already contained the details of the work programs.
“Now, all the programs for rehab, all the details have been inputted into that thick rehab plan,” said Lacierda, adding, “so we’re now seeing all efforts toward reconstructing and rehabilitating all the ‘Yolanda’ affected municipalities in Eastern Visayas.”