Mar revisits quake rehab projects

TAGBILARAN CITY, Philippines  – Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas revisited Bohol the other day to conduct evaluation of the sub-projects for the rehabilitation of earthquake-damaged public buildings, funded with P2.3 billion under the Bohol Earthquake Assistance.

Roxas said he was prompted to return to Bohol when he was informed that only a few program of works from the town-beneficiaries were submitted to the reviewing team during his last visit on October 15, during the anniversary of the 7.2-magnitude earthquake that struck the province.

He said he was “frustrated” over the way the sub-projects were being undertaken earlier, but he hoped that such will be fast-tracked this time.

Bohol is a beneficiary of P2.3-billion BEA fund, which he handed over to Governor Edgar Chatto, earmarked for public infrastructure rehabilitation, coursed through the DILG and handled by the provincial government.

Chatto, for his part, said that the bases for the sub-projects’ implementation were the recommendations from the town-beneficiaries, adding that the BEA-funded sub-projects are now being carried out at a faster rate that the preceding months, as evidenced by the number of POWs and certificate of availability of funds issued.

Based on DILG’s records, as of last Wednesday, a total of 260 CAFs were issued, up from only 22 last October 15, and 612 POWs submitted from only 388, also in the same period. A total of 212 POWs are subjected to “revisions” and 140 others are “under review.”

The 1st district has 153 POWs submitted but only 76 were approved and CAFs issued; the 2nd district had 263 POWs submitted, with 125 approved; and the 3rd district had 196 POWs submitted but only 59 approved and CAFs issued, DILG list showed.   (FREEMAN)