DILG sets new deadline to complete ‘Yolanda’ reconstruction projects in villages

TACLOBAN CITY, Feb. 1 (PNA) – The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has set March 2017 as the new deadline for the completion of Php 995 million worth of projects meant to rebuild village facilities damaged by super typhoon Yolanda more than three years ago.

Artemio Caneja, DILG assistant regional director for Eastern Visayas said the projects were originally scheduled for completion last December 2016, but it was extended until the first quarter of this year.

“We understand that it took time for our village officials to come up with documentary requirements for these projects even with the help of city and municipal governments,” Caneja said. Among the requirements are program of works and detailed engineering designs.

As of Wednesday, the 1,613 projects under the 2nd batch of Reconstruction Assistance on Yolanda (RAY) posted a completion rate of 71 percent. The DILG already disbursed Php 977.87 million of the total project cost.

These projects include village halls, day care centers, and community centers.

Typhoon-ravaged communities in Eastern Visayas got more than Php 930 million outlay for RAY batch 2, covering 57 villages.

For RAY batch 1, which focuses on town government facilities, almost all projects are complete except in Tacloban City; Guiuan in Eastern Samar; and Tanauan, Alangalang, Jaro, and Julita in Leyte.

RAY is the government’s strategic plan to guide the recovery and reconstruction of the economy, lives, and livelihoods in the affected areas.

The objective of the plan is to restore the economic and social conditions of these areas at the very least to their pre-typhoon levels and to a higher level of disaster resilience. (PNA)
RMA/SARWELL Q. MENIANO