TACLOBAN
CITY, Dec. 20 (PNA) -– The Regional Development Council (RDC) here has
welcomed the appointment of Presidential Assistant Wendel Avisado as a
key to “address bottlenecks” in the resettlement of families
badly-affected by super typhoon Yolanda.
National Economic and
Development Authority (NEDA) Regional Director Bonifacio Uy, acting RDC
chairperson, said Avisado convened concerned government agencies in
Manila to discuss several issues concerning the relocation of thousands
of families.
Among those present are officials from local electric
cooperatives, Local Water Utilities Authority and National Housing
Authority.
“We hope that through his appointment, there will be an
enhanced implementation of post-Yolanda resettlement activities in the
region,” said Uy, whose agency is tasked to monitor recovery programs
after the monster typhoon.
Last week, President Rodrigo Duterte
assigned Avisado to oversee recovery efforts for families affected by
the 2013 super typhoon. The official was the former Davao City
administrator from 2004 to 2010 during the term of Duterte as mayor.
The
appointment came more than a month after the President publicly
expressed disappointment over the slow pace of transfer of families from
danger zones to relocation sites in the past three years.
During
the 3rd year of super typhoon Yolanda commemoration last Nov. 8, the
President asked Presidential Assistant for the Visayas Michael Dino to
facilitate resettlement of families.
Dino has urged all government
agencies and the private sectors in the Visayas to “give their full
support” to Avisado as part of the government’s thrust to speed up
resettlement program.
“In three years, there were only 1,500
households resettled. The President wanted to fully transfer everyone
away from the danger zone. In less than two months, we doubled the
number of resettled families and the numbers are rising,” Dino said in a
Facebook post on Dec. 17.
The
NHA reported that as of Dec. 19, 2016 in this city alone, there are
already 3,624 permanent houses occupied out of the 14,433 target units
for super typhoon Yolanda survivors. (PNA)
LAP/SARWELL Q. MENIANO
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