Sen. Chiz Escudero this week called for the immediate release of P8 billion in funds for vital infrastructure rehabilitation of in Western Visayas damaged by Typhoon Frank one year ago.
"The government should no longer wait for Congress to pass the appropriation for the repair and replacement of many roads and bridges as well as the dredging of silted waterways in Western Visayas," he said.
A bill seeking the P8-billion for the rehabilitation of Iloilo, Antique, Aklan, Capiz, Guimaras and Negros Occidental as well as the cities of Iloilo and Bacolod is now pending in Congress (Senate).
Typhoon Frank struck mainly Iloilo, (Aklan), and the rest of Panay Island as well as the Mimaropa, Calabarzon and National Capital Regions on June 21, 2008.
It destroyed P500 million worth of crops and P7 billion worth of property while displacing more than 600,000 families and more than 3 million persons.
The National Disaster Coordinating Council also said at least 540 were killed while damages to roads and bridges in Iloilo, Aklan and Capiz were estimated at P2.3 billion.
"If the damaged infrastructure is not fixed soon, or if there are conditions attached to the release of rehabilitation funds, the region’s recovery and development will be stymied," Escudero said.
"Let us not wait for the incoming Congress to appropriate these funds. Let us not wait until another typhoon devastates the region," he said.
"When Luzon and Bicol were devastated by typhoons in 2007, the government was able to immediately release funds to rehabilitate the damaged areas", Sen. Escudero stressed. /MP
1 comment:
It's a pity that it has not been released pa pala. Buti na lang someone had the guts to point it out.
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