Ilonggo leaders unite for rehabilitation of Panay
Crossing party lines, Ilonggo leaders have closed ranks to rebuild Panay Island from the damages of typhoon "Frank" which struck a month ago on June 21.
Among the main concerns is the source of funds for the reconstruction of damage and the livelihood of hundreds of thousands of flood victims.
"Rehabilitation efforts should not have politics in it. That would be unpatriotic," Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez, who has been designated chair of the Task Force Bangon Panay, said in a telephone interview.
The task force is composed of the chair of the Regional Development Council, governors and city mayors of the typhoon damaged provinces and cities, national government agencies and from the private sector. Presidential Assistant for Western Visayas Raul Banias has been designated chief operating officer of the task force.
The task force will coordinate rehabilitation programs of the various agencies and LGUs.
Gonzalez, Cabinet Officer for Regional Development in Western Visayas and a staunch ally of President Macapagal Arroyo, has minced no words against administration critics and political opponents of the the President.
But he was seen linking arms with leaders of Panay Island including Iloilo Gov. Niel Tupas Sr. during a special meeting of the Regional Development Council attended by all governors of Western Visayas held here last Friday.
Tupas, who along with former Senate President Franklin Drilon broke ties with the President on July 2005 and called for her resignation, had blamed Gonzalez for the armed assault on the January 2007 capitol to remove the governor from office on corruption charges.
This has been repeatedly denied by Gonzalez but he directed supporters to junk the governor's son Nielex in the last elections. The younger Tupas won a seat in the city council.
Gonzalez said he will work with "anyone even the devil" to help Iloilo and other typhoon affected areas and victims.
RDC Chair and Antique Gov. Salvacion Zaldivar-Perez, who along with other Western Visayas governors had condemned the attempt to forcibly remove Tupas from office, lauded the new found unity among Ilonggo leaders.
"The meeting was very cordial and Secretary Gonzalez even praised Governor Tupas for having a nice Barong (Tagalog). This is encouraging and would benefit our people most in this time of need," Perez said in a telephone interview.
House Majority Leader and Iloilo Rep. Arthur Defensor said that all leaders should unite because of the daunting task of rebuilding from the ravages of the typhoon.
"In time of calamity, there is no place for disunity among leaders," he said in a separate phone interview.
The Regional Disaster Coordinating Council reported that at least 342 persons died during the typhoon in the Western Visayas region alone. Around 290 are still missing and 886 were injured.
The flooding affected around 2,545 villages and 417,399 families or 2,094,105 persons. At least 50,571 houses were destroyed and another 101,080 others damaged.
The worst hit were the provinces of Iloilo and Aklan which are still reeling from massive flooding and destruction of properties.
Gonzalez said the task force is still collating specific data of extent of damage and to identify the priorities because of the limited funds available.
The President has ordered the release of P421 million for the rehabilitation of the typhoon affected areas.
"This is really not 10 percent of the cost of the actual damage. The amount is a pittance compared to what we need," said Gonzalez.
He said he has discussed with House Speaker Prospero Nograles the possible legislation of additional funds but this would take time.
"We don't know how long the rehabilitation will take. But it will be a long time," he said.
House Majority Leader and Iloilo Rep. Arthur Defensor, said the Department of Budget Management is studying whether the 2008 budget could accommodate the rehabilitation funds for Panay and Romblon Islands.
If not, the President has directive lawmakers from Panay Island to sponsor a bill for a supplemental budget amounting to P15 billion, said Defensor.
Defensor said he will ask other congressmen to co-sponsor the bill. This include Representatives Raul Gonzalez Jr (Iloilo City), and Janette Garin (1stDistrict, Iloilo, Judy Syjuco (2ndDistrict, Iloilo) Ferjenel Biron (4thDistrict, Iloilo) and Niel Tupas Jr. (5thDistrict, Iloilo). The other lawmakers expected to support the bill are Exequiel Javier (Antique), Florencio Miraflores (Aklan), Antonio del Rosario (1stDistrict, Capiz) and Fred Castro (2ndDistrict, Capiz).
He said the cooperation of leaders of the affected areas is key to the implementation of the rehabilitation programs.
"In time of calamity, there is no place for disunity among leaders," said Defensor in a telephone interview.