Palo, Leyte
22 December 2013
President Benigno S. Aquino III led the turn-over ceremony of bunk houses to 48 displaced families that had been devastated by typhoon Yolanda.
In his message, President Aquino said the government will center its strategy on the principles ‘Build Back Better’ as it gears up to rehabilitate and reconstruct severely-hit towns in Leyte and Samar.
“Sa muling pagtatayo ng mga gumuho at sa pagbangon ng mga apektadong komunidad, sisiguraduhin natin na nasa mas mabuti at mas maayos na kayong kalagayan,” he said.
According to the President, the strategy is divided into three phases with time period beginning in 2013 to 2017. The first phase, which had already taken place, involves immediate response to address basic needs. This also includes government services and livelihoods to be made available, reconstruction of buildings and houses, and reinstatement of national and local government. The second phase, which they plan to start next year, involves building of public structures and facilities that can withstand future calamities. And finally, the third phase entails the completion of resettlement program from the ‘no-build’ zones, which also includes invigorating local businesses.
President Aquino also announced that they will install mechanisms that will help small-medium enterprise (SMEs) businesses recover its loss through loan-structuring or restructuring mechanisms with the help of cooperatives and micro-finance institutions.
“Buong-buo ang kumpiyansa ko sa pagtutulungan natin, mapapamadali natin ang malagay kayo hindi sa dati, ang hinahabol natin sa di hamak na mas magandang sitwasyon na kung saan pag may darating na pagsubok muli di hamak na mas matibay na po ang ating kakayahan, mas ganap ang ating kakayahan para harapin kung ano man ho ang pagsubok na ito,” he said.
The bunk houses being constructed by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) which costs P956,360 per unit will temporarily house 24 displaced families. Before the year ends, they are planning to build 159 units in Samar and Leyte that will benefit 3,816 families.
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