To step down February, Lacson lays out plans

MANILA, Philippines — Secretary Panfilo "Ping" Lacson will step down as Presidential Assistant for Rehabilitation and Recovery on February 10, 2015.

"We agreed in principle to wind up my duties as PARR until February 10 when I shall have completed the transition to NDRRMC, where the four phase cycle of addressing disasters rightfully belongs," Lacson said in a statement Tuesday.

Lacson's duties as rehabilitation czar will be transferred to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) once he steps down.

The former senator had a discussion with President Benigno Aquino III on the strengthening of the agency.

During his meeting with the president, Lacson mentioned areas for improvement in prevention and mitigation handled by the Department of Science and Technology and the Department of Interior and Local Government.

Lacson also cited the response and relief headed by the Department of Social Welfare and Development, as well as the rehabilitation and recovery handled by the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA).

He suggested that the Office of Civil Defense administrator and executive director of the NDRRMC be elevated as co-vice chair with the NEDA in handling the rehabilitation program.

Lacson told Aquino that the transition would be timely as the Congress is set review the NDRRMC law on or before May 27, 2015.

The Department of Budget and Management should automatically release the P80 billion to the NDRRMC for the recovery of Eastern Visayas, Lacson added.

The former senator said that he wanted to step down as rehabilitation czar because he already did his job.

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