ILOILO CITY, Nov. 20 (PNA) –The Iloilo government through the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) has approved the proposed P10 billion rehabilitation plan for the various sectors affected by typhoon “Yolanda”.
PDRRMC executive director Jerry Bionat said the figure is still subject for increase as some sectors have not yet submitted their reports and proposals.
Among the priorities, Bionat said are cash assistance for casualties, livelihood and damaged houses including government facility which have been given a priority fund of P7.3 billion.
In social services, the proposed budget is P 797.9 million for the rehabilitation of hospitals, rural health units, purchase of additional medicines, equipment, repairs and other health-related concerns.
On the economic sector, agriculture will have almost P411.4 million rehabilitation fund for the purchase of fishing paraphernalia, fishing boats, provision of farm tools, quality seeds for rice, vegetables, root crops and livestock.
On the infrastructure sector, the rehabilitation plans cover construction and repairs of school facility which reach to P567.4 million and P 4.8 million for the repairs and clearing operations for the provincial roads and bridges.
Gov. Arthur Defensor, Sr. admitted that the province has only P 50 million available fund for the rehabilitation while fund for other plans are still wishlist to be taken from the national and regional offices.
Defensor added, he and Ilonggo Senator Franklin Drilon are now scouting help from other government agencies and even to private sectors.
The governor said any help they could gather will be allocated for the livelihood program of the affected fishermen in 5th District of Iloilo wherein almost 90 percent of the motorized boats were damaged.
Defensor stressed he wanted to replace with new boats those totally damaged motorized boats which are owned by small-scale fishermen.
“We will focus first to the livelihood of these affected fishermen rather than their houses because fishing is their main source of income”, he said.
Meanwhile, the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO) will also start its intervention program for the affected families in most hit municipalities in the province.
PSWD Officer Dr. Naneth Q. Pador said they will conduct a short-term intervention to mitigate the distressed condition of their target beneficiaries by providing cash- for-work and stress debriefing to distressed individuals and families at the evacuation centers.
She also said as a long-term intervention, they will conduct training on different livelihoods to improve the living conditions of the beneficiaries like small business enterprise, sari-sari store, pedicab, food processing, and candle-making, among others. (PNA)