Press Release
March 4, 2014

Marcos: LGUs now have access to rehab funds

Local government units have finally been given a primary hands-on role in rehabilitating areas hit by super typhoon "Yolanda" four months ago.

This was disclosed by Senator Ferdinand "Bongbong" R. Marcos, Jr. who said that it was rehabilitation czar Sec. Panfilo "Ping" Lacson himself who revealed to him a policy shift by the national government, which now grants LGUs access to funds raised by the government through cash donations of international and local donors.

"There is now a change in policy. The previous policy didn't tap the LGUs, but now the LGUs are being utilized. In fact, there were already downloads to LGUs of funds by the national government," he said.

Lacson gave Marcos an instant briefing and updates during their meeting last week on the extent of rehabilitation works his agency has undertaken so far.

Earlier, some local officials had sought Marcos' help, claiming the national government had not given them budget for their own rehabilitation endeavors.

"The new policy is a welcome development and I think local officials now can implement reconstruction and repair projects because of the money that will be given to them. The LGUs have to submit, however, needs assessment and calamity report first," Marcos said.

The senators said reconstruction and rehabilitation of damaged government buildings and facilities like municipal and city offices will be prioritized to be followed by public facilities like schools and hospitals.

Marcos has filed Senate Resolution 548 urging for a Senate probe into the status of the funds contributed by international as well as local donors to LGUs in the Visayas Regions devastated by the super typhoon and to determine the concrete plan of action for the complete rehabilitation and reconstruction of the affected LGUs using the donated funds.

In the website of Foreign Aid Transparency Hub, or FAiTH (www.gov.ph/faith), as of February 12, 2014, with a foreign exchange of US$1= P45.012, the government received a total of US$13,337,478.00 (P648,176,187.53) cash donations. The total foreign aid cash and non-cash pledged was US$551,913,473.00 (P24,843,729,246.68).

"Magkikita uli kami para magplano para doon sa pledges. I was telling him (Lacson) na and'yan na 'yung pondo, iyung mga pledges baka mawala," the senator said.

FAiTH is an online portal of information on calamity aid and assistance pledged or given by countries and intergovernmental organization, as well as donations coursed through the Commission on Filipino Overseas' (CFO) Lingkod sa Kapwa Pilipino program (LINKAPIL).

Marcos also said Lacson told him that private organizations like the Gawad Kalinga and Habitat for Humanity have been acting faster than the government in constructing houses for the displaced victims.

Aside from these, it was reported that Shelter Box, a foreign non-government organization with rotary clubs as local partners, is still in the country. It has already given tents and provided for other basic necessities to homeless families in Tacloban and Ormoc.

The Aboitiz Foundation, the Social Development Arm of the Aboitiz Group of Companies, has reportedly started repairing 200 classrooms in Northern Cebu, notably Bogo City and San Remigio, as well as building 70 new classrooms with the support of Metaphil Aboitiz Construction affiliate.

Also, the Magsaysay Foundation gave 150 fishing boat to fishermen in Leyte.

"Ganoon naman talaga mas mabilis ang private sector kasi hindi na sila nagbi-bid 'tapos sila mismo ang nagko-construct. Basta itinabi nila 'yung pera, eh tuloy na 'yun," he said.

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