MANILA, Aug. 2 (PNA) — Malacañang assured the United Nations (UN) on Sunday that the government is determined to complete the rehabilitation works in the areas affected by super typhoon “Yolanda.”
“Tinitiyak natin sa United Nations na higit pang pai-igtingin ang determinasyong makumpleto ang trabaho ng rehabilitasyon upang tiyakin na lahat ng mga nawalan ng bahay dahil sa bagyong ‘Yolanda’ ay maililipat sa permanente at disenteng mga human settlements na malayo sa danger zones na kanilang pinanggalingan. Layunin din nating matulungan silang magkaroon ng kapaki-pakinabang na kabuhayan at trabaho sa kanilang pagbangon mula sa kalamidad,” said President Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. in a radio interview with dzRB Radyo ng Bayan.
This is the Palace’s response to Chaloka Beyani, UN special rapporteur on the human rights of internally displaced persons, who reported that the Philippines has not done enough rebuilding after super typhoon “Yolanda” devastated much of the Eastern Visayas region.
“Patuloy ang pagtutok ng pamahalaan na bigyan ng sapat na tulong ang mga internally displaced person, partikular hinggil sa pagtatayo ng mga permanente, ligtas at disenteng tahanan,” said Coloma.
He noted that the National Housing Authority, Department of Social Welfare and Development, and Department of Public Works and Highways, together with the concerned local government units, are working collectively in responding to the needs of the typhoon victims.
“Sa panukalang 2016 budget, mayroong karagdagang pondo para sa pagpapatuloy ng pagbabagong-tatag ng mga komunidad na lubhang naapektuhan ng mga kalamidad katulad ng super typhoon ‘Yolanda,’ pati na ang mga kaganapan sa Zamboanga at Cotabato,” Coloma added.
The Palace also thanked Beyani for his visiting the Philippines and for his observation.
“Nagpapasalamat tayo kay UN Special Rapporteur Chaloka Beyani sa kanyang pagbisita noong nakaraang sampung araw at sa kanyang mga kongkretong panukala kung paano pa higit na mapapahusay ang pagtugon ng pamahalaan sa kalamidad,” said Coloma.
Typhoon “Yolanda” (Haiyan) was one of the strongest tropical cyclones ever recorded. It devastated not only the Philippines but Vietnam and Micronesia as well. (PNA)