Lacson rues ‘very little budget support’ for Yolanda victims

On the fifth anniversary of Typhoon Yolanda, Senator Panfilo Lacson reiterated his frustration over the lack of government funds to finance projects that would help affected residents recover.

Lacson, tapped by the Aquino administration to draft a comprehensive plan for rehabilitation and recovery efforts, said many of the projects were done with help from non-government organizations and the business sector, but little support from the government.

As Presidential Assistant for Rehabilitation and Recovery (PARR), Lacson led a team that crafted and put together an eight-volume, 8,000-page Comprehensive Rehabilitation and Recovery Plan (CRRP) with a P167 billion budgetary requirement.

This was completed “with great help from non government organizations, as well as the private and business sector, international organizations, etc like the USAID, UNDP, JICA, EU Commission, the McKenzie & Company consulting firm, and ironically very little, if not negligible support from the national government," Lacson said.

The document consisted of a detailed and elaborate description of the 5 W’s —what, why, where, when and how— in order to accomplish a build-back-better vision for the 171 cities and municipalities devastated by Yolanda, international name Haiyan.

“Unfortunately, while the CRRP was approved by then President (Benigno) Aquino III, very little budget support was appropriated to help the typhoon victims in the affected areas,” Lacson said.

“Most of the infrastructure projects like hospitals, housing units, school buildings etc. came from donations from the private and business sector,” he added.

He earlier said that the government failed to implement most of the recommendations listed on the master plan. 

Asked if he talked with Aquino regarding the lack of funds, Lacson said he did not see the need since the former had approved the CRRP.

“I can only remember an instance during the budget call when I called then Budget Secretary (Florencio) Abad's attention to point out the absence of any item to fund the Yolanda rehab in spite of the approval by the President of the multi-year appropriations of P 167.8 billion. He then promised to correct the NEP (National Expenditure Program) by proposing a measly P1 billion,” he said.

He said he did not know how much was released.

“I only know it was appropriated. I don't know any more how much was released since I resigned already after carrying out my mandate under Memo Order 62,” he said.

Despite this, the senator said he considers his stint as Presidential Assistant for Rehabilitation and Recovery as one chapter in his public service career he will never forget.

“(It was) extremely difficult, many times frustrating, yet satisfying only because I worked with very competent staff and consultants who didn't mind the limitations imposed by our own government in all aspects,” he said.

“If not for the technical support and assistance provided particularly by the USAID, UNDP, JICA and World Bank, I do not know how we could have accomplished our task,” Lacson further said.

In November 2013, Yolanda ripped through the central Philippines, leaving over 7,350 dead or missing. The super typhoon also caused P39 billion in damage to property.

Lacson was appointed presidential assistant in December 2013 .  He resigned in February 2015. — LDF, GMA News