ILOILO CITY — The regional director of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) in Western Visayas on Monday again reminded concerned national government agencies to submit their projects affected by Tropical Depression Agaton for proper intervention.
Ro-Ann Bacal, regional director of NEDA 6, said that the committee on disaster rehabilitation and recovery committee of the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC), said that the report will be submitted to the central office so their secretaries will be “instructed to realign” their funds.
Last week the RDRRMC called for an emergency meeting to determine whether or not there is a need to come up with a “full-blown rehab.”
However, based on the presentation, the main problem was in Capiz and some parts of Iloilo, she said.
“What we will do is gather all information as to how much is needed from the national government in terms of road rehab, assistance to families and livelihood,” she said.
During the meeting, Bacal requested local government units to identify projects that they “specifically want the national government to fund.”
She said that funding has levels: the national government funds the projects of the Department of Public Works and Highways and special program for farm-to-market roads, farm-to-mill roads and roads leading to tourist projects while local government units for provincial roads.
“It is important that they identify and relay which of these projects need to be attended to by the national government,” Bacal said in an interview on Monday.
The regional director likewise underscored the need for agencies to “immediately provide assistance” for totally affected families such as food for work, skills training and startup projects “to bring them back to be productive citizens.”
While the Department of Social Welfare and Development has already made intervention, there may also be a need to call on the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority and the Department of Labor and Employment.
The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources is also urged to identify fisherfolk that should be provided with bancas and fishing paraphernalia. Reports on losses of bancas and fish implements were noted in Capiz and northern Iloilo.
The Department of Agriculture is also urged to support farmers with farm implements although they have started to already distribute seeds and other inputs.
Moreover, the Department of Trade and Industry may work with Land Bank of the Philippines, Development Bank of the Philippines and the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas to come up with a “concessional loan” for affected micro, small and medium enterprises so they could get back on their feet.
The Department of Education is also urged to “relocate” school buildings that are situated in “vulnerable places.” This is also true for health centers, she said.
Bacal underscored that among the proposed interventions the most immediate would be the relocation of families situated in vulnerable areas
“We have to do this in the meantime because of our situation,” she cited.
The RDRRMC during the previous emergency meeting passed a resolution urging the fast-tracking of the Panay River Integrated Development Project that is seen to provide solution to the perennial flooding problem in Capiz.
Engr. Gerardo Corsiga of the National Irrigation Administration informed Bacal that they will be using their funds to start the implementation of the project this year.
The PHP19-billion project is expected to have its ground-breaking by fourth quarter of 2018.
The initial damage incurred by Aklan due to Agaton was placed at PHP24.424 million
In Capiz, the initial damage to fisheries was estimated at PHP75.56 million while some 9, 763 hectare of rice lands incurred damages based on the PDRRMC report.
The flooding due to heavy rains induced by Tropical Depression Agaton in Capiz has affected 159 barangays from 12 municipalities of Capiz and displaced some 1,482 families. (PNA)
