Funds for the rehabilitation of Yolanda-affected areas in northern Cebu will soon be available but the money will not be given to local government units.
Provincial Capitol consultant Carmel Ulanday said the bulk of the funds will be coursed through regional line agencies and some may choose to partner with LGUs through a memorandum of agreement.
“From here, we can now expect government agencies to move because the money is there,” she said.
Ulanday added that the task force and the public could monitor the government agencies and the progress of rehabilitation work in northern Cebu.
Vigilance
“We will hold them accountable for the money, so let us practice vigilance and see where the funds will go,” she explained.
Cebu’s rehabilitation officials will meet with Secretary Panfilo Lacson, the presidential assistant for recovery and rehabilitation following the release of the first phase of the total funding requested by Yolanda-affected LGUs.
In a text message, Task Force Paglig-on chief Baltazar Tribunalo said he expects to meet with Lacson to discuss the amount that will go to Cebu.
In an earlier report, OPARR Undersecretary Danilo Antonio announced that a total of P97 billion was released to Tacloban City and the provinces of Antique, Cebu, Eastern Samar, Iloilo, Leyte and Western Samar to roll out projects aimed at providing infrastructure, livelihood, resettlement, social services and support to Yolanda victims.
In Cebu, Daanbantayan town was the worst hit with P1.5 billion in damage followed by San Remigio town at P632 million and Bogo City at P330 million, based on the province’s damage assessment report.
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