Keeping faith in Filipinos

The controversy on the construction of bunkhouses for the people in Leyte and Samar who lost their homes during super typhoon Yolanda last year seemed to be a case of different terms of reference. The controversy is whether the initial batch of bunkhouses constructed were compliant or not with international standards.

It arose after allegations floated recently claiming the construction of the initial batch of bunkhouses has been overpriced and that substandard materials were reportedly used. An obviously peeved Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Rogelio “Babes” Singson promised to resign if these allegations of overpricing would be proven.

Singson has ordered the suspension of the building of the temporary shelters. Singson justified the suspension so that they at the DPWH “can modify the design and adjust the cost.”

The DPWH is the chief agency implementing the construction of the bunkhouses, both funded out of government funds and financial assistance from here and abroad.

As the term connotes, a bunkhouse is a rough simple building providing sleeping quarters usually with bunks, or built-in frames that serve as bed. It is designed precisely to save on space due to floor area constraints. The idea is to provide for temporary shelters for the hundreds of low-income families rendered homeless by Yolanda.

This is the context of how the bunkhouses were constructed. These are just temporary housing structures the Yolanda victims will have to bear to live in for the next two years at the least. It assumes this is the minimum period within which these families would be able to get back on their feet and be able to build their own permanent houses.

Singson explained one row of bunkhouses, comprised of 24 units for same number of families, was completed at a cost of P836,017. This is lower, he noted, than the original estimated cost of P959,000. Each bunkhouse includes common wash and toilet area. They were made of wooden frames, GI sheet roofing, plywood walls, raised flooring and cement footing.
Singson disclosed the DPWH was able to cut down the construction costs of bunkhouse because he was able to encourage contractors to “generously waive” their profit margin and overhead expenses as their way to help those rendered homeless by Yolanda.

Long before this controversy on the bunkhouses erupted, a high-ranking official from the United Nations (UN) Habitat emailed to me his concerns on the Philippine government’s reconstruction plans for Yolanda. Given the nature of his job in this international agency involved in Yolanda multi-donor community efforts, I will keep his identity “anonymous.” The UN-Habitat is mandated by the UN General Assembly to promote socially and environmentally sustainable towns and cities, with the goal of providing adequate shelter for all.

He shared with me some of the agency’s insights for our understanding. Some principles, he cited, have already been elaborated for communique to the Philippine government that was prepared with inputs from the UN-Habitat:

• Reconstruction assistance has to be spearheaded by the government, with government source funding plus international assistance; 

• Equip one government authority (ex-Sen. Panfilo Lacson) with clear mandate to coordinate, oversee and evaluate rebuilding efforts; 

• Request government to apply uniform policies, standards and equal benefits to all affected (no rural or urban package); 

• Encourage government to design entitlement packages depending on the level of damage; 
• Explore possibility of entitlements paid out directly to the families/cluster groups in 3 installments through a local bank or through existing national programmes; 

• Please request government to coordinate with NDRRMC (National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council)/RAY-Chair/LGU (local government units) to coordinate and assign NGOs (non-government organizations) to cover the areas; 

• Seek UN/NGO’s technical assistance to build back safer (houses); 

• Request the government to ensure decentralization to local level (LGUs) for support and supervision; and,

• Please appeal for maintaining equity. 

“We believe the only way to rebuild one million houses/lives within next two years and we call it People’s Process,” the UN Habitat official pointed out.

Naturally, the international agencies and donor countries have been keeping a close watch on how the Philippine government is using all these monies for post-Yolanda reconstruction. Controversy such as this would surely raise alarm bells.

Worse, the international donor community might hesitate to pour additional aid for the Yolanda reconstruction, ex-Senator Ping Lacson warned. President Benigno “Noy” Aquino lll had earlier named Lacson as his presidential assistant tasked as chief coordinator for the government’s Reconstruction Assistance for Yolanda, or RAY for short.

Lacson noted with great relief that top businessmen involved in the Philippine Disaster Recovery Foundation (PDRF) remain very supportive to boost the implementation of RAY with greater vigor and faster pace.

Lacson sat down with the key members of the PDRF, chaired by Manny V. Pangilinan, along with top business leaders ICTSI chief Enrique “Ricky” Razon, Endika Aboitiz, and Manny Zamora at Solaire last Monday. As I gathered, it was a preliminary meeting for the private sector participation in the reconstruction and rehabilitation of Yolanda-stricken areas to help rebuild lives of the thousands of people affected.

As agreed upon during that meeting, they will invite the top 50 corporations to join in the private funding, monitoring and auditing of all Yolanda-assisted projects. Initially conceptualized are the basic requirements to build hospitals – at least 180 beds; school/hospitals that can also be evacuation centers and command center – with communication, generators, water, medicine, relief goods, and sanitary items.

Despite the issues being raised on the construction of bunkhouses, donors from our own countrymen like the PDRF thankfully have not lost their faith in their fellow Filipinos to rise above selfish interests and petty pursuits. If only President Aquino can lead by example and show more faith in his “bosses” that they, too, can generally be trusted.