P82M northern Cebu infra repair fund ready

CEBU, Philippines - Government  infrastructures in northern Cebu damaged by super typhoon Yolanda in November would soon be repaired, as the national government set over P82 million budget.

Department of Interior and Local Government-7 Director Ananias Villacorta yesterday told reporters during the monthly post-Yolanda forum jointly organized by the Philippine Information Agency and the Central Command  that the fund is ready for distribution.

The 13 affected northern Cebu local governments units, though, would only get their share and after completion of necessary documentary requirements.

“We just received the sub-allotment, which is ready for check issuance. We are just waiting for the complete requirements from the local government units. We required them to notarize the memorandum of agreement,” Villacorta said.

He said the amount would most likely be distributed after the Holy Week already.

Based on the estimated cost the LGUs submitted and as verified by DILG officers, repair of damaged or destroyed municipal halls, public markets, civic centers, and other infrastructure would cost P82.79 million.

“After Yolanda, DILG was tasked to assess the extent of damage to public infrastructure…. Out of  the 16 affected LGUs, only 13 were verified as having damage to infra,” Villacorta said.

The DILG-7 director said they did not include destroyed structures, as these would be taken care of by the Department of Public Works and Highways.

A total of 28 repair projects were approved for funding by DILG Bogo City and 12 towns in northern Cebu.

The bulk of the P82-million recovery assistance fund goes to Bantayan town (P26.83 million) for the repair of its damaged municipal building (P4.03 million), public market (P10.89 million), and civic center (P11.91 million).

Neighboring Sta. Fe town would get P12 million for the repair of its municipal building (P5 million) and public market (P7 million).

Daanbantayan town, on  the other hand, gets P9.7 million for its municipal hall (P2.3 million), public market (P3.95 million), and civic center (P3.5 million); Bogo City’s share would be P6.21 million for its public market (P2.4 million) and civic center (P3.81 million); Madridejos would receive P5.2 million for its town hall (P2.6 million) and public market (P2.6 million).

Medellin also gets P5.2 million for the town’s municipal hall (P331,000), public market (P2.27 million), and civic center (P2.6 million).

San Remigio would get P4.3 million for its town hall (P1.7 million) and public market (P2.6 million); Tabuelan’s share would be P4.26 million for its public market, while Sogod was allocated P4 million for its municipal hall (P1 million), public market (P2 million), and civic center (P1 million).

Pilar in the Camotes islands gets P1.7 million for the town hall (P1.2 million) and civic center (P572,016).

Tuburan requested for P1.37 million for its public market (P1.039 million) and civic center (P332,379); while Tabogon would get P1.1 million for its civic center.

Villacorta said that they have already informed the mayors to inform the barangays captains of their respective localities to prepare the estimated cost of damage to their respective barangay halls and other structures owned and maintained by the barangays, as these would be the next recipients of recovery assistance funding.— /RHM (FREEMAN)