‘Massive’ rehabilitation in Yolanda-hit areas to begin June 15 – Lacson

Large-scale rehabilitation in the provinces worst hit by Typhoon Yolanda will begin by June 15 despite the lack of a comprehensive master rehabilitation plan.

"'Pag natapos namin (ang vetting process) before May 30, ceremonial signing na lang yun (sa Cebu). And then right away, we'll present it in a Cabinet meeting and once (President Benigno Aquino III) approves it, massive scale na 'yung implementation," rehabilitation czar Panfilo Lacson said Saturday.

He said the Office of the Presidential Adviser for Rehabilitation and Recovery (OPARR) can no longer wait for the approval of a nationwide "master plan" due to the lengthy screening process each proposal undergoes.

"Kapag sumunod tayo masyado sa structured na proseso, wala tayo masyadong maa-accomplish," said Lacson, who announced the June date at a previous event.

Philippines "ahead" in post-disaster recovery

The former senator also dismissed "nasty rumors" surrounding the government's efforts to help Yolanda-stricken areas. He said that the Philippines was "ahead" compared to other countries who were also affected by natural disasters.

"Yung Katrina nga, four years bago sila nakakita ng first tangible result. Yung Haiti, 200,000 people are still in tents. Kailan ba yung Haiti- four years ago? We don't want to follow the lead of Haiti," said Lacson.

Lacson was referring to Hurricane Katrina, which caused widespread destruction in the southern United States in 2005 and left 1,836 people dead.

Haiti, meanwhile, was hit by a magnitude-7.0 earthquake in 2010. At least 100,000 died in the quake.

He said the reconstruction of Banda Aceh, Indonesia is the OPARR's ideal model for the recovery of areas hit by Yolanda. Rehabilitation of the tsunami-hit area took eight years, despite the resources given to Kuntoro Mangkusubroto, who was in charge of the specially-created rehabilitation agency for the tsunami.

"While we understand the frustration and the impatience of the survivors and fellow Filipinos, they should also understand where we're coming from," Lacson said.

Homes and classrooms

The slow progress is partially due to the National Housing Authority's (NHA) difficulty in finding land for families who lived in areas now identified as high-risk zones.

Out of the 1,400 hectares needed for resettlement areas, only 248 hectares have been identified for this purpose.

Though the NHA is still waiting for their program to pass the vetting process, Lacson said it has promised to finish 214,000 housing units before the president steps down in 2016.

These housing units will be constructed in Yolanda-affected areas across Southern Luzon and the Visayas.

Both the NHA and OPARR have submitted proposals to the president to hasten the acquisition of land. Those include the issuing of presidential proclamations for land under public domain, and the purchase of land from the private sector.

But, Lacson said, the government cannot act hastily either.

"Kung yung bara-barang reconstruction ang gagawin- (yung tipong) 'magtayo kayo sa dagat'- madali 'yun eh. Pero 'pag dumating ang (isa pang) Yolanda, sino sisisihin? Ang gobyerno rin," said the former senator.

Social Welfare and Development Secretary Dinky Soliman has meanwhile been tasked with relocating families still living in tents to transitional or core shelters before June, when the typhoon season usually starts.

For its part, the Department of Public Works and Highways has taught Yolanda survivors how to build stronger houses and has provided them with basic tools and building materials.

The Department of Education will, meanwhile, be in charge of building new classrooms. DepEd will implement building plans once localized versions of the rehabilitation program have been approved.

"Once ma-approve ang rehabilitation plans ng mga provinces, bubuhos na rin yung provinces sa pagpapagawa," said Lacson, adding 763 classrooms will be built in Leyte through June and July.

He said OPARR will soon ask the division superintendents of Cebu, Eastern and Western Samar, and other areas for the number of classrooms that need to be constructed in their areas. — JDS, GMA News