ILOILO HALFWAY TO RECOVERY FROM YOLANDA Panay News, November 7, 2014 BY GLENDA SOLOGASTOA ILOILO City – Iloilo province is now almost halfway to complete recovery from the devastation that super typhoon “Yolanda” (international name: Haiyan) brought November last year, said Provincial Administrator Raul Banias. International and local non-government organizations (NGOs) have partnered with the provincial government to rehabilitate damaged infrastructures and livelihood, among others, right after the typhoon struck, he said. Banias sees the rehabilitation efforts to further pickup speed “because there was already an announcement from (President Benigno Aquino III) that the budget for the rehabilitation will be released within a month.” The P17.1-billion rehabilitation plan of the province covers five components: * agriculture (P2.3 billion) * infrastructure (P7.3 billion) * social services (P2.7 billion) * resettlement (P2.4 billion), and * livelihood (P2.4 billion). “Some funds will be downloaded to local government units (LGUs) and various government agencies that will implement projects like the National Housing Authority (NHA), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Agriculture, Department of Public Works and Highway and Department of Health,” said Banias. The rehabilitation has been “long and tedious” said Banias, but he expressed confidence that it will be completed by next year. The rehabilitation of damaged public infrastructures like civic centers, municipal halls and public markets under the supervision of the Department of Interior and Local Government is now 80-percent complete, said Banias. In the education sector, funds for the repair and/or reconstruction of damaged schools are coursed through the Department of Education, according to the provincial administrator. “DepEd has enough funds to replace over 1,300 destroyed classrooms,” said Banias. In northern Iloilo, foreign partners such Concern Worldwide, the Korean Red Cross and Save the Children have been erecting typhoon-resilient schools, he revealed. As to the fishermen whose livelihood were affected – “Yolanda” destroyed over 9,000 fishing boats – Banias said NGOs like One Meal Foundation of Ilongga businesswoman and civic leader Teresa “Nene” Chan have been pouring aid that includes new fishing boats. “As far as helping the marginal fisherfolk whose livelihood were affected, we are almost done,” said Banias. The provincial government’s “Adopt a Fisherman” program has received “continuous and relentless” support, he added. By his own estimate, Banias said around P50-million worth of fishing boats were given to beneficiaries in northern Iloilo. About P40 million came from One Meal Foundation alone, he revealed. Banias said Gov. Arthur Defensor Sr. now aims to provide fisherfolk with better fishing gears. “While they have boats, they only use hook and line. If they are provided with fishing gears like bottom-set gillnets, their catch will be significantly enhanced,” said Banias. The province will allot P12 million for the purchase of fishing gears and it will be taken from what’s left of the donations for the “Adopt a Fisherman” program, and from the province’s calamity fund. Banias said the province received around P12 million from donors around the world for the “Adopt A Fisherman” program. In agriculture, rehabilitation is ongoing, said Banias. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, in coordination with the Department of Agriculture, is already releasing farm implements to farmers, he said. As to shelter, Banias said, the NHA and DSWD are primarily in charge. NHA is directly dealing with municipalities and trying to acquire appropriate sites for the resettlement of those living in hazardous and vulnerable areas. Some resettlement works have already been bid out, Banias said. DSWD, on the other, has funds for shelter kits and other aid for typhoon-affected families. “On Nov. 8, DSWD will be releasing P30,000 per identified affected household,” said Banias. As to the “water-wash” component of the rehabilitation in affected areas, Banias said, private and international donors are actively assisting. In Concepcion town, for example, the Concern Worldwide, an NGO from Ireland, is repairing the water systems of island barangays, said Banias. But aside from rehabilitation, Banias said, public awareness on disaster risk reduction and management is also important. “People need to be prepared for disasters. Their capability must be enhanced. They are now provided with trainings on what to do during disasters,” said Banias. For this, the provincial government has teamed up with the Office of the Civil Defense and international NGOs./PN
Posted on: Fri, 07 Nov 2014 00:03:44 +0000