Task Force urges faster passage of Panay Rehab bill
The Task Force Bangon Panay yesterday urged Congress to fast-tract the passage of the rehabilitation fund for areas ravaged by typhoon Frank.
Presidential Assistant for Western Visayas Raul Banias, the task force's chief operation officer, said their priority is the release of the P8 billion "Paglaum Fund" for rehabilitation of affected areas nearly five months after the typhoon brought unprecedented destruction and damage to Western Visayas.
"The various agencies are using their own funds while waiting for the release of the supplemental budget. We hope that this could be released by the end of the year," Banias said in an interview at the sidelines of the task force's meeting.
The House committee on appropriation on Wednesday endorsed House Bill 4824 for second reading, according to Banias.
The bill is sponsored by House Speaker Prospero Nograles and all congressmen of Western Visayas.
The bill allocates P8 billion to finance the reconstruction and the rehabilitation of the provinces of Iloilo, Antique, Aklan, Capiz, Guimaras and Negros Occidental, and the cities of Iloilo and Bacolod which suffered heavy damages after the typhoon triggered the worst flooding in the region in recent years.
Banias said they hope next week the House can pass the bill within this month and submit it to the Senate.
"If the fund is released by the first quarter, it would not be a big delay yet for the implementation of our projects," he said.
Agencies and local government units reported that they have been using their emergency funds to fund urgent projects but have been constrained by unavailability of more funds.
The Department of Public Works and Highways alone has spent around P527 million for the repair and replacement of at least 27 bridges in Iloilo and Antique provinces, roads and for flood control projects. Other agencies including the Department of Education, Department of Health, Department of Agriculture, Department of Environment and Natural Resources and Department of Social Welfare and Development have also spent funds.
Banias said they have to cut their targets after the initial proposal for P15 billion was slashed first to P10 billion and then to P8 billion because of the unavailability of funds and due to the global economic crisis.
"It's a big reduction from P15 billion that was initially proposed. We have to prioritize vital projects like the replacement or repair of bridges and roads and those for flood control," said Banias.
The Regional Disaster Coordinating Council had reported that at least 342 persons died during the typhoon in the Western Visayas region alone. At least 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 were ravaged by massive flooding and destruction of properties, considered the worst ever experienced in the region.