Manila post-Yolanda evaluators in Bogo

CEBU, Philippines - Post-disaster evaluators from the national government arrived in northern Cebu yesterday, 66 days after super typhoon Yolanda ravaged the area.

This, as Bogo City started with the revitalization stage of its post-Yolanda relief program.

City officials led by Mayor Celestino Martinez Jr. were distributing to another batch of affected families roofing materials, nails, relief goods, and piglets for livelihood when the Post-Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA) team from Manila arrived.

Bogo had launched Adopt-a-Barangay Project, a two-year community rebuilding plan made to address the local government’s limited resources in rebuilding the homes of residents after Yolanda caused a damage totaling P295.6 million.

“Kung mag-agad ta sa (If we wait for the) national government, dugay pa kayo (it would take so much time),” Martinez said.

Meanwhile, Office of the Civil Defense’s Minda Morante who led the PDNA team in northern Cebu said the evaluation they are conducting is still not late.

She said some local government units were not yet ready when they set their supposed visit last December.

“The national government came up with the terms of reference and framework para dali kaayo ihan-ay ang atong (so it is easy to organize our) rehabilitation plan for super typhon Yolanda affected areas,” Morante said.

On their distribution of shelter materials, City Treasurer Julio Ursonal said local funds amounting to P5.2 million were spent for the 18,000 pieces of galvanized iron sheets and 4,000 kilos of umbrella nails they handed out.

He said each family would get six to 10 GI sheets, depending on the extent of damage to the house.

The city also spent P2.1 million for 200 piglets for fattening and 300 bags of feeds. Each family would get two piglets and three bags of feeds.

Ursonal said the city would get back the principal amount of around P2,000 from each family after three months, when the pigs are sold, to purchase other piglets for distribution to another batch of families.

Martinez explained that only five families from each of 29 Bogo barangays received piglets due to limited stocks.

He said the same problem of lack of supplies was also encountered in the distribution of housing materials.

Yolanda damaged 18,000 houses in Bogo, with 4,000 needing relocation; 6,000 for rebuilding on site; and 8,000 more requiring repairs.—(FREEMAN)