Ni NOEL ABUEL
Inihain sa Senado ang panukalang batas na naglalayong maglaan ng P20 bilyon para sa rehabilitasyon ng mga probinsyang sinalanta ng nagdaang bagyong Odette.
Sa Senate Bill No. 2487 o ang Paglaum Fund of 2022 na inihain ni Senador Juan Miguel F. Zubiri, nais nitong agad na matulungan ang mga lalawigan na hindi pa rin nakakabangon mula sa pananalasa ng nagdaang bagyo.
“We were in Visayas and Mindanao recently, and we saw just how bad the situation really is on the ground. Everything’s been flattened down, especially in places like Dinagat and Siargao. Homes and livelihoods have been wiped out. So we really need a substantial budget to help affected provinces rebuild and recover from the typhoon,” ani Zubiri.
Aniya, nakausap nito ang mga local government officials ng Visayas at Mindanao upang alamin ang gagawing hakbang para tuluyang makabangon sa kalamidad.
“Talking to local officials, we determined that we need at least P20 billion to begin rebuilding affected areas across Visayas and Mindanao. It’s a large amount, and I expect we will run into some budgetary concerns, but we’re really hoping the executive finds it to be a fair assessment of what our affected provinces need, given how massive the damage has been,” sabi ni Zubiri.
Nooong Enero 14, iniulat ng National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) na mahigit sa 2.2 milyong pamilya ang naapektuhan ng typhoon Odette habang nasa P17.7 bilyon ang nasirang mga kalye, tulay at iba pang gusali samantalang nasa P11.5 bilyon naman ang nasalantang mga pananim.
Sa ilalim ng Paglaum Fund bill, ang NDRRMC ay aatasang magtayo ng Rehabilitation Plan for the Department of Budget and Management, natutukoy sa mga infrastructure projects na isasaayos.
Makikipagtulungan din ito sa Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) at ng mga local government units para mabigyan ng tulong pinansyal.
“Having talked to Odette survivors face to face, and having seen the absolute devastation of their homes and their communities, we really specified the need for direct financial subsidies in the Paglaum Fund bill. So I hope my colleagues can help me pass this bill and ensure that our people will get the support they need in order to recover from Odette as soon as possible,” paliwanag pa ni Zubiri.
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