From p26B to a “Realistic” P10b, Davide cuts Yolanda rehab fund request

CEBU, Philippines -  Cebu Governor Hilario Davide III has reduced the post-Yolanda rehabilitation budget the province is asking from the national government from P27 billion to just P10 billion, saying that under the current circumstances, the original amount is no longer realistic.

“From P26 billion to P10 billion, that’s my instruction to the task force. Let’s be realistic. The P26 billion we submitted (to the Regional Development Council) para nako dako ra pud kaayo ba (is too big). Aside from the government, naa pay (there are also) assistance that we will be getting from foreign, even local private organizations,” he said.

“Personally, dako gyud kaayo to (it was too big an amount). Ang (National Economic Development Authority) told us mas maayo nang dako.  Di ra man sad ang Cebu nagkinahanglan og pundo, nay (Funds are also needed in)  Samar, Leyte,” he said.

He said he already told President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III, who was in Cebu last Tuesday for the EDSA People’s Power Revolution celebration, and that the president assured him that Cebu would receive help from the national government.

The governor said the new budget for post-Yolanda rehabilitation of 15 heavily-affected northern Cebu towns would be based on the assessment submitted by Task Force Paglig-on, a group especially formed to coordinate reconstruction efforts.

Davide, though, said that the amount would possibly increase once three towns, whose mayors are not his allies, would submit their respective assessments to the task force.

The governor said that aside from private organizations, which already sent help to the affected areas, there were also residents who did not wait for any help and just started rebuilding their homes.

He said those who managed to repair their homes would no longer be considered as recipients of government help, and that the P10 billion he requested would be for indigent families who cannot afford to buy housing materials to build new houses.

Meanwhile, Davide said he is amenable to rehabilitation czar Panfilo Lacson’s idea of coursing the funds directly to the local government units. Davide said the Capitol’s role would then just be to monitor and ensure that the funds are properly used for rehabilitation activities.

He also defended the national government, which was lambasted for its slow rehabilitation efforts and for allegedly leaving the job done by foreign groups and local non-government organizations, which have been building houses and giving livelihood programs to the affected families.

“It’s very unfair nga ingnon way natabang ang (to say there was no help from the) national government. Relief packs sa DSWD, food for work, cash for work. Usahay ba dako kaayo (Sometimes, expectations are too high) ang mga LGUs,” he said, adding that the government follows a process before releasing taxpayers’ money.

Meanwhile, Davide said they would submit another request for the new budget Cebu would be asking next week.

“Target, in one year, dako na ta’g agi (we have accomplished a lot),” he said.—/RHM (FREEMAN)