Ping attends 1st Cabinet meeting as rehab czar
It’s official. Former senator Panfilo Lacson is no a memEer of the Tuino aEinet, tasNed to lead the rehaEilitation of areas in the isa as devastated E Super T phoon olanda.
Lacson joined the aEinet meeting esterda at Malacaxang the second in the aftermath of olanda. President Tuino on Monda
signed Lacson’s appointment as rehabilitation c ar for the Visayas, Press Secretary Herminio Coloma r. said.
The former chief of the Philippine National Police will serve as the government’s overall “manager and coordinator in carrying out recovery and reconstruction efforts in the Visayas.
The Office of the Executive Secretary has released the appointment papers of Lacson as presidential assistant for rehabilitation and recovery with Cabinet ran .
Lacson will be assisted by Danilo Antonio as undersecretary.
Coloma said the President also signed Memorandum Order (MO) 62, providing for the functions of the presidential assistant for rehabilitation and recovery under the Office of the President.
Lacson will be coordinating with various government agencies and local government units ( LGUs) in the reconstruction of affected areas, including Samar, Leyte, Negros, Cebu, Bohol, Capi , A lan, Anti ue, Iloilo and Palawan.
“He is also tas ed to coordinate with the National Disaster Ris Reduction and Management Council and its member- agencies and consult with the concerned LGUs in the formulation of programs for the rehabilitation of the affected areas, Coloma said.
Among the programs of Lacson’s office are “overall strategic vision and integrated short-term, medium-term and long-term plans, which will be submitted to the President for approval, he said.
Lacson, according to Coloma, is expected to propose funding support for the implementation of the plans and programs.
Under the MO, Lacson is authori ed to call upon any government office concerned with the implementation of the reconstruction efforts of the government in typhoondevastated areas.
“All departments, agencies, government-owned and controlled corporations and financial institutions are directed to render full assistance to the Presidential Assistant to carry out his functions, the MO read.
Coloma expressed belief that Lacson will be given a free hand in carrying out his mandate.
NHA gets P238.6 M for Yolanda rehab
The government has turned over P238.6 million to the National Housing Authority ( NHA) for the construction of housing units for olanda victims whose homes were wiped out or damaged by the typhoon.
Budget Secretary lorencio Abad said the money, charged against budgetary support to government corporations, forms part of a P350-million rollout for NHA’s Emergency Housing Assistance for Calamity Victims Program (EHACVP).
The EHACVP is a nationwide program designed to address the housing needs of low- and marginal-income families as well as informal settlers affected by calamities.
Under the program, beneficiaries will be relocated to permanent dwellings in safe areas.
The NHA is implementing the EHACVP with LGUs in need of housing assistance for their affected communities. It will provide each family housing materials worth P5,000.
“Rehabilitation activities for olanda-hit communities are in full swing as the A uino administration continues to coordinate with aid groups, civil society, and affected LGUs in restoring normalcy in typhoon-stric en areas, Abad said.
“ e are facilitating the prompt release of funds that will aid our recovery efforts, especially with respect to providing secure shelter to lowincome families and informal settlers who cannot afford rebuilding their own homes, he added.
The balance of P114.4 million, on the other hand, will be used to help households affected by previous calamities.
The DBM said beneficiary-families affected by Typhoon Santi will receive P2,000 worth of aid for roof repairs.