GMA delivers promised G.I. sheets for victims

RECONSTRUCTION IS ON FULL SWING

BUGALLON–Chided for not bringing anything when she first came around, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo returned to Pangasinan on Wednesday to fulfill her promise to help rehabilitate and reconstruct the province in the aftermath of Typhoon Cosme.

Accompanied by three of her cabinet members, Arroyo was quick to dispel earlier impressions that she was quick on promises but slow on delivery when Public Works and Highways Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane reported that a big chunk of the P500 million worth of galvanized iron sheets she promised to the typhoon victims were already underway.

Ebdane, to whom the National Disaster Coordinating Council entrusted the P500 million, said the DPWH made an initial purchase of 6,400 G.I sheets and 4,800 of these were already delivered to Pangasinan.

Governor Amado Espino Jr. who earlier rallied mayors to start rehabilitation without having to rely on the promise of the President was visibly happy and relieved. He shared the mayor’s earlier disappointment in the President for failing to promptly deliver on her promise.

Espino reported to the President that at the initiative of the provincial government, P200,000 was given to each of the 24 towns and two cities damaged by the typhoon for their immediate use for reconstruction and rehabilitation work.

The other cabinet secretaries who arrived with the President were Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro, National Disaster Coordination chairman and Health Secretary Francisco Duque III

Arroyo instructed Ebdane to ensure that P50,000 worth of GI sheets will be delivered to Pangasinan each week for 10 weeks until all the G.I. sheets were all delivered even as she directed Espino that more than 29,000 Pangasinenses who lost their homes totally from Typhoon Cosme should be made the first beneficiaries of the free G.I. sheets.

The rest of the G.I. sheets are for damaged schools.

However, the G.I. sheets may have come a bit too late because most of those whose houses were totally damaged by the howlers have now reconstructed their homes to shed them from the rains.

Traders made it harder for the typhoon victims when they increased the prices of G.I sheets and other construction materials soon after the typhoon.

In order to ensure efficient distribution of the free G.I. sheets to qualified beneficiaries, the regional directors of the Department of Social Welfare and Department of Public Works and Highways in coordination with the Regional Disaster Coordinating Council set up new guidelines for the distribution of the GI. sheets to local executives.

The LGUs are expected to provide the other construction materials, like wood, nails and others.

The President is also set to release P11 million from the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office for use in reconstructing nine government hospitals within Pangasinan.

The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation earlier remitted P25 million to the provincial government as additional outlay for the repair of damaged hospitals and the Narciso Ramos Sports and Civic Center.

Feeling abandoned earlier by Malacanang, some Pangasinan officials and mayors reportedly warmly welcomed the arrival of Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay and the staff of Senate President Manny Villar who were quick to send relief goods for distribution to their constituents.

The only mayors who turned up to join the welcome party for the President’s return were Ernesto Castañeda of Lingayen, Simplicio Rosario of Binmaley, Ricardo Orduna of Bugallon, Ernesto Acain of Labrador and Romulo Evangelista of Aguilar.

Board Member Alfonso Bince Jr. also passed a resolution granting Governor Espino the authority to negotiate with Land Bank of the Philippines for a possible loan of P6540 million to be used in the rehabilitation of the province on the premise that the help from the national government would not suffice.

The governor also reported that as of June 4, 50 percent of the typhoon affected areas in Pangasinan were already energized.

The President gave P10,000 each to the kin of four persons from Bugallon who died from the storm.

The Philippine Health Corporation donated P500,000 to the province and paid claims by different hospitals in Pangasinan in advance amounting to millions of pesos while the DOH brought medicines.—LM

Duque appeals
to politicians

Dr. Salvador Duque has appealed to President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, former Speaker Jose de Venecia and all the leaders of Pangasinan “to close ranks and pool their efforts to rehabilitate the province of Pangasinan” which are still reeling from the onslaught of Typhoon Cosme that brought P4 billion worth of damages to the province.

“Super Typhoon Cosme has left 39 persons dead and billions worth of damages in infrastructure, private properties and agriculture and marine wealth, and it behooves upon our leaders whether in government or in the private sector to come to the rescue and aid of their provincemates,” said Duque, chancellor of the association of private schools, colleges and universities in Region I and former Regional Development Council chairman.

A staunch ally and supporter of the President and personal friend of De Venecia, Duque thanked the President for personally coming to Pangasinan to assure Pangasinan officials led by Governor Amado Espino Jr. and Mayor Alipio Fernandez that the province will have top priority in the government’s rehabilitation and relief efforts. #

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