AFTER criticizing the Aquino administration for its “Band-Aid” solutions to national problems, presidential candidate and Senator Grace Poe urged national and local leaders to heed the lessons of Typhoon ‘Yolanda’ which devastated many parts of the country.
Poe questioned whether the Aquino administration has indeed restored “normalcy” to the 116 towns and cities ravaged by the typhoon in six regions of the country with total damages estimated at P89.59 billion.
Poe also hit the government’s delayed response to the victims of Super Typhoon Yolanda, doubting the government could deliver on its promises in the remaining 8 months of the administration.
“It has been two years since the calamity and yet there is still so much to be accomplished, so many still to be helped,” she said.
Poe noted that the National Housing Authority targeted the construction of 92,554 permanent housing units by 2016.
But of this number, only 17,641 permanent housing units were completed, while the construction of 42,566 permanent housing units is still under way.
However, much work still needs to be done in providing permanent shelter, as many of the displaced families have returned to their homes located in areas, which no longer considered to be safe or classified as No Build Zones.
“The NHA claims that there have been delays in scouting safe areas for suitable resettlement, which was compounded by the lack of raw materials needed for construction,” Poe said in a statement.
“Both Neda and NHA lament that existing national laws and policies have hindered the acceleration of the rehabilitation process,” she said.
The challenge of securing clearances and permits to construct, plus the tedious bidding process which requires complex documentation, all contributed in slowing down the process, she added.
Poe said accelerating rehabilitation without sacrificing quality is key in bringing back normalcy to the lives of those affected by the disaster.
Poe also recognized the importance of the involvement of civil society organizations in monitoring the progress of implementation of rehabilitation efforts and urged increased transparency in the release and utilization of funds.
Lastly, Poe recommended the establishment of a civilian-led agency dedicated to disasters, which will be headed by no less than the President.
The proposed National Disaster and Emergency Management Authority will lead in the formulation of comprehensive plans for all phases of disaster, namely mitigation, preparedness, response, and rehabilitation and reconstruction.