P4B rehab fund for Panay to finance more than 1,000 projects
The Office of the Presidentiasl Assistant for Western Visayas is just waiting for documents coming from offices that are included in the rehabilitation of typhoon-stricken areas in Panay Island so that funds could be released the soonest possible time.
Presidential Assistant for Western Visayas Raul Banias, during the first quarterly meeting of the Regional Kalahi Convergence Group (RKCG), said that Panay was allotted P4 billion from out of the P12-billion supplemental calamity fund that was approved for the rehab of those affected by typhoons “Ondoy”, “Pepeng” and “Frank”.
“We are now collecting and consolidating all the requirements for the release of the fund. We are now reaching out to agencies and local government units (LGUs) to submit the required program of work,” he said.
Banias said they have to gather more than a thousand projects, which means “quite a job for the task force (Panay) and the Project Management Office.”
He added that the P4-billion fund is enough to finance the replacement of all damaged bridges, national highways, especially along the strong republic nautical highway, flood control, health and agriculture facilities, among others.
“Hopefully before the end of the month of early February as soon as agencies can submit the required program of work then we can have the initial release of funds,” he said. (PNA)
