Local government units of Yolanda-ravaged towns in northern Cebu scored low in terms of rehabilitation and early recovery efforts, according to an Inter-Agency Humanitarian Evaluation (IAHE) conducted from September 1 to 4.
The evaluation, which gathered the responses of more than 1,000 people from the government and local communities, showed that some LGUs scored as low as 5 on a scale of 1-5 with 1 as the highest.
“This was mainly because government intervention was slow since it did not have enough funds yet and that’s where the international humanitarian organizations came in– they somehow compensated for what the government was finding difficult to do,” said Capitol Consultant for Rehabilitation Carmel Ulanday.
Ulanday said the respondents were asked to assess the timeliness, effectiveness and efficiency of emergency relief responses and rehabilitation efforts of the government as well as the international humanitarian communities.
While the LGUs scored low in terms of rehabilitation, they scored highest in terms of emergency relief as the assistance was “timely and efficient.”
Ulanday attributed this to the preparedness of the Province and municipal government units in their response within 72 hours after the typhoon hit.
She added the command centers where international humanitarian organizations can go also helped through proper coordination.
The evaluation used the triangulation method, involving those from the local governments, the communities and from the Province.
Based on the evaluation, Ulanday said that the mayors realized how unprepared they were.
With this, they came up with the recommendation to have capacity building workshops to prepare them for worse calamities in the future.
“This will involve trainings on contingency planning, risk assessment, among others, involving the local governments and the community as well,” said Ulanday.
Another recommendation was for more livelihood and shelter assistance as it was seen from the evaluation that these were the needs Yolanda survivors in northern Cebu found really important.
Cebu Gov. Hilario Davide III also admitted that a lot of people have not been reached by the rehabilitation efforts of the government.
However, it does not mean that the government is not doing anything.
“The government is doing its best. Personally, I believe we are on the way to recovery. Despite limitations, we haven’t stopped giving out help,” he said during a press conference yesterday.
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