By EUGENE ADIONG
BACOLOD City — Contrary to reports, the rehabilitation and recovery plan of Negros Occidental has already been sent to the office of rehabilitation czar Panfilo Lacson, Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr. yesterday said.
“We have already submitted numerous documents to the national government and we are in contact with a staffer of Secretary Lacson’s office,” he said.
Reports said provinces in Visayas that have not yet submitted rehabilitation and recovery plans were Negros Occidental, Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Biliran and Palawan.
But Marañon said they submitted documents days after super typhoon “Yolanda” struck the province in November last year.
Rosario Cabrera, chair of the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, said the damage assessment and rehabilitation plans of Region 6 have been sent to the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA).
Lacson had said the approval of rehabilitation funds for Western Visayas was delayed because of additional reports required by his office.
Lacson’s office required from the provinces a template that had a different reporting format from the damage assessment and rehabilitation plans submitted to NEDA and the post-disaster needs assessment (PDNA).
PDNA is a requirement under Republic Act 10121 or the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act and the basis for a master rehabilitation plan that will be funded by the government and private donors or aid groups.
The rehabilitation of Western Visayas, which could last up to three years, will cost at least P11.7 billion. This includes P4.3 billion for Iloilo, P2.9 billion for Antique, P2.8 billion for Capiz, P492 million for Aklan and P370 million for Negros Occidental.
Capitol records showed “Yolanda” caused P12,600,000 worth of damage to roads and bridges; P153,900,000 to schools; P3,961,000 to hospitals; P15,192,000 to animal production facilities; P23,562,735 to irrigation; and P220,436,635 to mangroves, or a total of P1,205,743,133.
Affected individuals reached 398,366 (83,830 families) in 475 barangays.
“Yolanda” also destroyed 11,871 houses and damaged 48,144 others./PN
