Pangasinan readies big rehab program
LINGAYEN–The Pangasinan provincial government is all set to rehabilitate damaged public infrastructures and crops wrought by Typhoon “Lando” that battered the province from October 18 to 21.
Gov. Amado T. Espino, Jr. ordered to jumpstart the rehabilitation after receiving the assessment of damages by concerned offices and agencies that determined the cost of repairs needed.
As of October 29, the estimated damages in Pangasinan ballooned to over P3.5 billion, broken down as follows: infrastructures, P522.7 million; agriculture, P2.335 billion; and social welfare-related destruction, P.737 million.
Pangasinan was placed under the state of calamity in an emergency session by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) last October 20 at the PDRRMC conference hall in Lingayen.
The declaration enabled all local government units (LGUs) to access their own 30 percent calamity funds to be utilized for relief operations which the province can augment as the need arises.
Under the law, the calamity fund (five percent of the total LGU budget), now called local disaster risk reduction and management fund, has been divided into two: 70 percent as pre-disaster fund and 30 percent for quick response and post disaster rehabilitation.
In such case, Provincial Risk Reduction and Management Officer Rhodyn Luchinvar Oro said that funds will be sourced out from the 30 percent calamity fund of the provincial government.
According to Gov. Espino, part of the rehab plan will concentrate on the repair and construction works of damaged provincial and barangay roads, school buildings, barangay halls, including dikes, irrigation systems and drainage canals as well as facilities within the Provincial Capitol complex and the Narciso Ramos Sports and Civic Center (NRSCC).
Funds will also be allocated as financial assistance to individuals (farmers in particular) those who incurred damages in crops to include palay, High-Value Commercial Crops (HVCC), corn, fisheries and livestock.
Out of the 44 towns and four cities in Pangasinan, 40 were affected. This translated to 491,525 individuals affected by the calamity, the PDRRMO reported.
The P2,335 million amount of damages in agriculture lists palay-P1.397-M high value commercial crops (HVCC)- P558.7-M, corn- P35.77-M; fisheries- P318,9 –M; and livestock- P24,08-M.
The estimated rehab plans, however, are: Palay- P59.5- M, HVCC- P6.99-M, Corn- P7.1-M, Fisheries- P21.7-M and Livestock- P25.5-M.
Oro said the provincial government will seek the assistance of the national government to augment the province’s coffers for rehabilitation.
Damage to infrastructure, on the other hand, was estimated at P522,69-M with the following breakdown: provincial roads- P161.82 –M; provincial bridges – P24.25-M; barangay roads/bridges/brgy. hall/complex- P166.05; school buildings- P49.9 M; others-P107.05- M; facilities/buildings within Capitol compound- P9.05 –M, and NRSCC-P4.5- M.
As an assistance, the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO) will allocate financial assistance to families of the 13 reported casualties as well as the 17 others who were injured.
Rehab plan will also include assistance to some 5,350 individuals whose houses were totally damaged and 48,091 individuals whose houses were partially damaged. (Leonardo Micua)
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