BY: FAYETTE C. RIÑEN
CEBU CITY, April 3 (PIA) -- Interior
and Local Government Secretary Manuel “Mar” Roxas II just signed the memorandum
circular for the available funds for the rehabilitation and repair of partially
damaged infrastructures in 13 localities in northern Cebu badly hit by super
typhoon Yolanda in November 8, last year.
The good news was disclosed by Regional
Director Ananias Villacorta of the Department of Interior and Local Government
(DILG-7) to participants that included local chief executives and local disaster
risk and reduction officers within Central Visayas in the two-day roadshow “Iba
Na Ang Panahon: Science for Safer Communities” that ended yesterday.
“Just today (April 1), Sec. Roxas
signed the letter for the available funds for the repair of damaged infra on
public buildings” like schools and health centers, said Villacorta.
“Most probably before the end of this
month, the funds will be distributed to the identified local government units
(LGUs),” said Villacorta.
Vilalcorta said there were 16 typhoon-affected
LGUs but only 13 were recipients to the funding. “The three other LGUs either
reported no damage or their program of works was recommended to the Department
of Public Works and Highways (DPWH-7) as public infrastructures in their areas
were totally damaged,” said the DILG-7 chief.
The DILG-7 director further said their
agency is only concerned about repairs and not total reconstruction because in
such case, request for rehab funding will have to be coursed to the DPWH-7.
Villacorta however, said the release of
the repair funds to the intended LGUs will have to be supported with the
necessary documents.
Meanwhile, the DILG-7 director urged
LGUs to procure rescue equipment as part of their disaster preparedness action
plan which can be taken from their own local disaster risk reduction and
management fund (LDRRMF). The LDRRMF is not less than five percent of the
estimated revenue from regular sources of the LGU as contained under RA 10121
or an Act Strengthening the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management
System.
Villacorta said it is sad to note that
three months after Yolanda, there were some LGUs that still had millions of
pesos balance of their LDRRMF during the conduct of their regular monitoring.
“We will continue to monitor LGUs on
their proper utilization of LDRRMF especially in the purchase of equipment,”
stressed Villacorta.
Only 14 or equivalent to16 percent of the total 136 LGUs in
Central Visayas had available disaster equipment, a DILG-7 presentation showed
on the ‘State of Disaster Preparedness in Central Visayas.’ (mbcn/PIA-7)