PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Palawan — Rehabilitating Mangsee Island and 13 other barangays in Balabac town that were devastated by Typhoon Vinta, requires nearly PHP140 million.
The amount needed was the result of the Post-Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA) conducted in the town following the typhoon’s onslaught last December, Provincial Risk Reduction and Management Officer (PDRRMO) Cruzalde Ablaña reported during a meeting of the PDRRM Council Tuesday afternoon.
“More or less PHP105 million is needed for the construction of houses, classrooms, and infrastructure, including the rehabilitation of the rural health units in Balabac, as well as health stations in the affected barangays,” Ablaña said.
The PHP30 million would help families replace the fishing boats they lost, and the seaweeds that were washed out.
An estimated PHP4 million would also be needed to repair barangay health centers, a marine detachment, a coast guard station, and the electrification project of the provincial government in Balabac, while PHP300,000 could help in the cross-sectoral structures, such as the Lunar Monitoring System of the Philippine Navy.
On the other hand, Provincial Social Welfare and Development Officer Abigail Ablaña informed the risk reduction council that PHP40 million had already been prepared as financial assistance from the regional social welfare office for Balabac.
“The amount was provided based on the result of a Rapid Danger Assessment and Needs Analysis that was conducted,” she said.
Office of the Civil Defense – Mimaropa Regional Director Eugene Cabrera, who chairs the regional DRRMC, said a copy of the PDNA result should also be sent to all members of the PDRRMC to be the basis of their reports when requesting for more funds needed for rehabilitation.
“Through this document, the process of requesting funds can be sped up so that materials needed to rehabilitate Mangsee and the rest of Balabac can already be purchased,” he said.
It was also learned during the meeting that the provincial government and the Department of Health will jointly fund the rehabilitation of the rural health unit and the barangay health stations.
In a related news, Cruzalde said solid waste management should also be given primary attention in Balabac through the conduct of information campaigns on solid waste management practices.
“The municipal government should be strict in the implementation of solid waste management in the municipality,” he said, adding the local government should already have a sanitary landfill and a material recovery facility.
Based on the PDNA, it has been observed that Mangsee, as well as mainland Balabac, has trash all over, he said.
“Despite the distribution of toilet bowls, people make the shoreline their comfort room, and it is unhealthy and can cause diarrhea or cholera,” he said. (Celeste Anna Formoso/PNA)
