Malacañang said President Aquino has not taken action, as of Monday, on Secretary Panfilo Lacson’s “irrevocable resignation” as the “rehabilitation czar”.
Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said President Aquino accepted Lacson’s proposal to place his office’s functions in the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.
“No action has been taken on Secretary Lacson’s ‘irrevocable resignation,’” Coloma said in a statement.
“What has been transmitted to the Office of the President is a review of the work done by the Office of the Presidential Assistant on Recovery and Rehabilitation (OPARR) and its proposal to bring about a transition whereby its present functions will be ‘folded in’ and absorbed by a permanent institution such as the NDRRMC.”
Coloma said the proposal would likely be presented to Cabinet departments “directly involved or are also stakeholders” in rehabilitation and recovery efforts then discussed with the Cabinet members and the President.
Lacson earlier submitted an 8,000-page rehabilitation and recovery plan for provinces destroyed by supertyphoon Yolanda in November 2013.
Last week, Lacson called for “a permanent agency” to “handle all functions related to preparedness, recovery and rehabilitation since we are a typhoon-prone country.”
Cebu Gov. Hilario Davide III said he was saddened with Lacson’s resignation.Cebu was among the first to submit a rehabilitation plan last April.
“I don’t think this will have an effect. Our rehab plan is already approved, all we have to do now is follow up on the concerned government agencies and that plans will be implemented. But it is sad that he’s resigning. For me, he has done a good job,” he said.