P52B already spent on Yolanda rehab, says DBM

The government already disbursed a total of P52 billion to fund efforts to rehabilitate the communities devastated by Supertyphoon “Yolanda” exactly a year ago, according to the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).

DBM Secretary Florencio B. Abad Friday claimed that the Aquino administration “has made great strides this past year to help the people affected by Typhoon Yolanda, especially in Leyte and Samar.”

Abad said that the DBM “had to ensure there were enough funds to support the rescue and reconstruction efforts and that these funds were released as quickly as possible.”

Budget Secretary Florencio B. Abad. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

The government has tapped various public funds, including the calamity fund and the national disaster risk reduction and management fund, and continues to engage in appropriations from the national budget over the years to support various relief and rehabilitation initiatives since the supertyphoon struck on Nov. 8, 2013, the DBM said.

The money allocated for the consolidated “Yolanda” Comprehensive Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Program went to social services, as well as infrastructure, livelihood and resettlement projects, the agency added.

The funding was coursed through national government agencies, government-owned and -controlled corporations, as well as local government units (LGU) for their respective relief and rehabilitation programs.

On a per agency basis, DBM data showed that the largest amount went to the Department of Social Welfare and Development, which spent P6.06 billion to support its feeding program for “Yolanda” victims, as well as augment its Quick Response Fund intended for the calamity.

Also, the Department of Transportation and Communications announced the completed rehabilitation of three airports and 14 seaports damaged by the supertyphoon.

Rehabilitation work on Kalibo International Airport was completed last April while that of Roxas Airport and Busuanga Airport were done in June and October, respectively.

The Kalibo and Busuanga airports cater to tourists visiting the country’s renowned beaches, while the Roxas airport serves over 200,000 passengers a year, serving as the main gateway to the whole island of Panay, the DOTC said.

As for the maritime facilities, those fully rehabilitated were the Port of Naval in Biliran, the ports of Danao, San Carlos, and Pulupandan in Negros Occidental; and the ports of Coron, Culion, Cuyo, and El Nido in Palawan.

The agency added that rehabilitation work was also undertaken at the port of Matnog in Sorsogon, the ports of Legazpi, Tabaco, and Pasacao in Albay, the Port of Maasin in Southern Leyte and the Sta. Fe Port in Bantayan, Cebu.

The DOTC noted that Tacloban Airport was one of the worst damaged transport facilities in the wake of the supertyphoon. While its rehabilitation has yet to be completed, the facility’s passenger terminal building (PTB) has been refurbished with new floors and ceilings, walls, windows and doors, finishings, and other furniture, the statement showed.

“Yolanda” (international name: Haiyan) last year flattened most of central Philippines, unleashing record winds of 300 kilometers per hour. Storm surges of over four meters also caused massive flooding.

The supertyphoon struck 171 cities and municipalities, affecting 12 million people. Over 900,000 families were displaced and more than a million houses were damaged, leaving at least 6,200 dead, 1,000 missing, and 28,000 injured.

According to the Post-Disaster Needs Assessment of the Office of Civil Defense, “Yolanda” inflicted P89.6 billion in damage as well as P42.8 billion in losses across the economic, infrastructure and social sectors.