Aklan eyes P8 billion post-Yolanda rehab

BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL

The rebuilding plan of Aklan costing P8 billion to restore towns devastated by super Typhoon Yolanda is now in the hands of the national government.

Provincial Planning and Development coordinator Engr. Roger Esto said the post-Yolanda rehabilitation fund for Aklan will be part of the P170.9 billion Comprehensive Rehabilitation and Recovery Plan (CRRP).

The comprehensive plan aims to rebuild the infrastructure, resettlement, livelihood, local facilities and social services in the provinces. 

Aklan is one of the 14 provinces in the Visayas heavily affected by super Typhoon Yolanda nine months ago.

The typhoon damaged about P2.811 billion in infrastructure and agriculture in Aklan. The death toll stood at 14 with 572 injured.

Esto said the Aklan’s recovery plan submitted to the Office of the Presidential Assistant for Rehabilitation and Recovery (OPARR) last July 21 covers reconstruction of bridges, classrooms, roads, flood control and rechanneling of river systems, and replacement of agriculture facilities.

After typhoon Yolanda, the province of Aklan conducted post disaster needs assessment and prepared the rehabilitation plans and program of works for funding by the government with the help of technical staff of PARR office.

Of the P170.9 billion post-disaster plan, the national government will fund the recovery and rehabilitation efforts of P137 billion next year and the remaining amount from the 2015 or 2016 budgets. 

Last August 1, rehabilitation czar Panfilo Lacson submitted the comprehensive masterplan to President Benigno S. Aquino III which incorporates the rehabilitation and cluster action plans of local government units in Western Visayas and Central Visayas.