Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said the Build Back Better Task Force will be headed by Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea with various agencies as members including the Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Department of Budget and Management (DBM), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), National Irrigation Administration (NIA), National Housing Authority (NHA), among others. Its focus will be on post disaster rehabilitation and recovery programs.
“Itong sunod-sunod na kalamidad (these consecutive calamities) make a task force a necessity already. Ang gusto lang ni president ay mas mabilis na pagbigay ng pangangailangan ng ating kababayan kapag may kalamidad (The president only wants to expedite provision of assistance to victims),” Roque stated.
The Philippine Air Force, Philippine Navy, Philippine Coast Guard, and local government units have also been instructed to provide assistance.
“Kasi ang NDRRMC (National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council) ay composed nga po iyan ng iba’t ibang ahensiya ng gobyerno. Pero siempre, direkta na si ES na magsasabi… Ganoon kadali na po iyong proseso (The NDRRMC is composed of various agencies of the government. But it will now be the ES who will make the orders… That is how fast the process [of the new task force] will be),” Roque explained.
“Maski walang pagpupulong ng council ay pwede nang magdesisyon ang Executive Secretary, lalong-lalo na if it means saving lives. (The Executive Secretary can decide even without a council meeting, especially if it means saving lives),” Roque added.
Meanwhile, he assured that the government has enough manpower for rescue and recovery efforts.
In terms of government aid, ₱101 million has been released to the DSWD, LGUs, NGOs, and DOH for Typhoon Rolly, while ₱35.5 million has been utilized by the DSWD for Typhoon Ulysses. – Report from Mela Lesmoras
