TACLOBAN CITY, Feb. 23 (PNA) — The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) in Eastern Visayas is still waiting for the downloading of the much awaited second batch of the barangay (village) Recovery Assistance for Yolanda (RAY) funds.
The Php1.57 billion funding schedule for transfer is on the first week of April and the checks will be given directly to villages to implement projects.
Of the 59 municipalities and cities in Leyte and Samar that need funds, there are at least 52 local government units that were able to meet the requirements.
DILG regional director Pedro Noval asked officials to immediately accomplish all projects under the first batch, so that the second batch funding can be released to them.
RAY funds are intended for damaged government facilities in villages such as village halls, day care centers and civic centers.
Early this year, Association of Barangay Chairman (ABC) Leyte president Edwin F. Faller led the league members in passing a resolution requesting DILG Secretary Mar Roxas to disburse funds directly to the villages for the implementation of projects funded by RAY.
According to Noval, local village officials will buy their own materials and hire people who will do the construction work.
It was revealed that to date, there are still seven local government units that were not able to submit requirements for them to avail of the second batch of RAY funds.
The list includes Alang-Alang, Albuera, Kananga, and Mahaplag from Leyte, Talalora, Sta. Rita from Samar and Tacloban City.
The RAY, under the Office of the Project Development Services (OPDS) of the DILG will fund the rehabilitation of 3,688 facilities from the 2,798 villages affected by super typhoon Yolanda on Nov. 8, 2013.
On the other hand, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) will handle the reconstruction of 13 totally-damaged infrastructures in the region with a total cost of Php359.37 million.
In addition to these, the second batch of funds will also be used to subsidize the rehabilitation of seven town facilities amounted to Php27.07 million, which were not funded under the first batch. (PNA)