‘Give LGUs greater role in rehab’

MANILA, Philippines - Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez yesterday renewed his appeal to President Aquino to give local government units (LGUs) a more active role in the rebuilding of areas devastated by Super Typhoon Yolanda.

Romualdez lamented that politics continues to hamper the rehabilitation of the devastated areas.

He said there must be sufficient consultation with local officials, who “know better what is good for their people than any other government agency.”

“LGUs are not given enough of a role in the rebuilding efforts. I hope the government will recognize the devolution policy or LGUs’ empowerment in the
decision-making because local officials know better what is good and best for them,” Romualdez said.

He said officials of national government agencies swooped down and made their own assessments and proposals for the rehabilitation of areas with little or no coordination with local officials.

Almost a year after the tragedy struck, the government had finally approved the 8,000-page P167.9-billion Yolanda Comprehensive Rehabilitation and Recovery Plan for the resettlement, infrastructure, livelihood, and social services in 171 cities and municipalities ravaged by the powerful typhoon.

Yolanda (international name Haiyan) affected 1.5 million families, of whom 918,261 were displaced. The government placed the death toll at 6,300 with 1,061 missing. But local officials said the casualty number is much higher than the official count.

Romualdez said only 200 out of the 14,500 permanent housing units needed have been built a year after the tragedy.

“The assistance being provided by the government is not enough to support the needs of the survivors,” Romualdez lamented.

The government, backed by international donors, has built temporary bunkhouses and shelters, but many residents have hammered back their shacks in the same coastal villages where they were hit by the storm – and which have been officially declared “no-build zones.”

International donors like the Tzu Chi Foundation, a civic group based in Taiwan, are constructing 2,000 housing units in Barangay Liloan in Tacloban.

Alfred Li, chief executive of the Tzu Chi Foundation Philippines, said their group started the construction of the houses last month after rigid screening of their target beneficiaries.

“We received about 2,015 applicants to be included among the recipients of their programs. Some applicants were disqualified because they already have houses, which were spared by Yolanda,” Li said.

An Australian mining firm, which the government contracted for a gold-copper project, has sponsored the establishment of a P3.3-million housing village for typhoon victims in Bantayan, Cebu.

The OceanaGold Philippines Inc. (OGPI) said the amount covers the establishment of a village covering twenty houses for families affected by last year’s onslaught of Yolanda in Barangay Ticad.

Bradley Norman, OceanaGold country director, said they are also providing additional livelihood projects to Yolanda-hit communities to regenerate tourism, trade and restore employment in the area.

Some government agencies like the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) has so far distributed a total of 30,000 newly built and repaired boats to affected fishermen.   – With Cecille Suerte Felipe, Perseus Echeminada, Lalaine Jimenea, Czeriza Valencia, Charlie Lagasca, Mayen Jaymalin