NEDA: Calamity losses hit P6B

CEBU, Philippines - Damage caused by the 7.2 magnitude earthquake and super typhoon Yolanda in Bohol and northern Cebu has reached P6 billion.

This was the estimate of the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) - 7 on the extent of damage brought about by the two calamities on public infrastructure, agricultural products and livestock in earthquake and typhoon-hit areas in the region.

NEDA-7 regional director Efren Carreon, however, said that the estimated damage, which is between P5 billion to P6 billion, could be much higher once the actual rehabilitation and reconstruction starts.

"Ang atong estimate basi na sa karaan nga mga designs sa mga public infrastructure. But as soon as the rehabilitation and reconstruction begins, mas dako ang gasto kay typhoon-proof and earthquake-proof structures na man na ang ipuli," said Carreon during the press briefing at the Mactan Benito Ebuen Airbase MIP Lounge yesterday.

Carreon said that among the public infrastructures that were damaged by the two calamities were school buildings, health facilities, bridges and roads.

Power lines in these areas were also damaged but these are owned by private companies.

He, however, said that the extent of the damage brought about by the two calamities is not something to be worried about because the estimated damage cost is only one percent of the total P670 billion Gross Regional Domestic Product (GRDP) of Central Visayas for 2012.

Central Visayas, for the past three years, is one of the top three performing regions with high GRDP in the entire country, Carreon said.

He added that the calamity-hit areas are slowly recovering and rebuilding. In Bohol province for instance, Carreon said that the bridges that were badly damaged by the earthquake are now passable, likewise the ports in northern Cebu towns that were damaged by Yolanda are now navigational hazard-free.

Carreon is also optimistic that there will be a lot of opportunities for employment and business after the two calamities.

"There is a saying that a calamity creates opportunities. I am optimistic that with the cooperation between the private sector and the government, mas daghan ang trabaho ug ang negosyo," Carreon added.

He explained that once the reconstruction/rehabilitation will start, the need for workers, even those who are less-skilled, will increase. Businesses, he said, especially the construction and hardware sector, will also flourish.

"Once the budget is there and the reconstruction begins, this will surely spur economic activities in affected areas. With the dynamism and cooperation sa tanan, Central Visayas will recover faster," Carreon further said.

NEDA and the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) will be closely coordinating to make sure that workers, especially those who belong to poor families, will be gainfully employed.

Tinago barangay captain Joel Garganera, whose barangay is hosting evacuees from typhoon-hit areas in Samar and Leyte, said in the same press briefing that they are now helping the transients, especially those who do not want to go back to their hometowns, find work here.-/QSB (FREEMAN)