ADB extends USD20-M to rebuild Yolanda-hit classrooms

TACLOBAN CITY, Jan. 18 (PNA) - The Asian Development Bank (ADB) with funding from the Japan Fund for Poverty Reduction (JFPR), has financed USD20 million for the construction of classrooms damaged by super typhoon Yolanda in central Philippines, the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) reported.

The Plan International is the consulting firm commissioned by the ADB to construct and repair classrooms in selected campuses in Kananga, Burauen, Tanauan, Dulag and Mayorga in Leyte; and Quinapondan, Balangiga, Hernani, Salcedo, Balangkayan and Guiuan in Eastern Samar.

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) approved the design in line with the build-back-better principle of the government.

“They can withstand winds as strong as 250 kilometer per hour like the one brought by super typhoon Yolanda. They are also equipped with ventilation systems, chairs, boards, wash basin, separate comfort rooms for boys and girls, and a rainwater catchment system serving as an alternative source of water,” the NEDA regional office said on its website.

NEDA is tasked to oversee the rehabilitation efforts of Yolanda-stricken communities.

In a statement, ADB Senior Legal Officer Karen Baydo said that the people of Japan are honored to have helped the Filipino people in times of need.

“With the new classrooms constructed, the concerned teachers, pupils and parents would take good care of the facility for future generations to benefit from the program of the ADB-JFPR,” Baydo added.

The project is in partnership with the Department of Education and the Department of Social Welfare and Development. (PNA)
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More consultations sought on Leyte’s ‘Great Wall’ project

TACLOBAN CITY, Jan. 15 (PNA) - The Regional Development Council (RDC) asked the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to consult more experts prior to the implementation of the PHP7.9 billion tide embankment project along Leyte’s coastal communities badly hit by storm surges in 2013.

In a statement posted Thursday by the RDC’s secretariat, the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA), the highest policy-making body conditionally endorsed during its fourth quarter 2015 meeting.

“The RDC endorsed the project subject to the conduct of consultation with the experts to be participated by professionals,”

These experts are affiliated with University of the Philippines - Marine Science Institute, Ateneo de Manila University-Manila Observatory, Alliance for Safe and Sustainable Reconstruction, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit, and the Area Management Committees of the Local Governments Tacloban City, Palo and Tanauan.

RDC private sector representative Oliver Cam of the Leyte Chamber of Commerce and Industry strongly suggested the consultation of experts to look into the details of the project.

“Cognizant of the critical relevance and huge investment requirement of the Project on Storm Surge Protection: Road Heightening and Tide Embankment for Tacloban-Palo-Tanauan, Leyte, the full council endorsed the project,” the RDC said in a statement.

The council deferred the approval of the “Great Wall” project during its third quarter meeting due to numerous concerns raised by various sectors.

The 27.3-kilometer “Great Wall” project stretches from Diit village in Tacloban to Cabuynan village in Tanauan town.

Sections 1 to 3 are in Tacloban, section 4 are the coastal villages of Tacloban and Palo, section 5 are some areas in Palo and Tanauan, and section 6 in Tanauan town.

The four-meter high structure, designed to shield coastal communities from big waves, was pushed through by President Benigno S. Aquino III after the 2013 storm surges wiped out neighborhoods in Leyte province.

The PHP7.9 billion project include civil works and right of way acquisition broken down in four years – PHP1.46 billion for 2016, PHP1.19 billion for 2017, PHP2.64 billion for 2018, and PHP2.64 for 2019.

The DPWH aims to start the project within the first quarter of 2016, starting in Palo town.

The DPWH-Bureau of Design is still reviewing the revised plan for the project. (PNA)
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NEDA sees brighter prospect of 2015 Eastern Visayas’ economy

TACLOBAN CITY, Nov. 25 (PNA) –- The 2015 Gross Regional Domestic Product (GRDP) is expected to get back on track with two years of massive post-Yolanda reconstruction activities, the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) reported.

NEDA sees a brighter prospect of the region’s 2015 economic performance, getting closer to the target of five percent set under the Regional Development Plan.

“Economic growth may be below the target, but it is better than in 2014 given the massive infusion of investment and construction works. Yolanda assistance translates into more building and better roads and more jobs,” said NEDA Regional Director Bonifacio Uy.

The 2014 GRDP performance nosedived by 6.8 percent from a positive growth of 4.5 percent in 2013. Economic growth in Eastern Visayas – the poorest region in the country – suffered a 2.3 percent decline last year.

The goal of stepping up growth to 4 to 5 percent looks more achievable with remarkable improvement of the industry sector, which contributes 41 percent to the GRDP.

Citing the latest available data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), Uy said the value of first quarter export of the region rose to USD138.25 million in the first quarter of this year or nearly tripled than the USD35.01 million exports in the same period a year ago.

For importation, the total value increased to USD156.26 in the first quarter or nearly double than last year’s USD60.62 million.

The official sees a sustained growth of services sector, which is the second biggest contributor to GRDP (40.7 percent). In 2014, it is the only sector that recorded increase in 2014 at 3.6 percent.

“That’s possible if the reconstruction programs will be expanded, sustained and expedited. There are still many rehabilitation activities coming, which will generate more jobs due to higher demand of services,” he added.

Massive assistance from government agencies and non-government organizations to farming and fishing is expected to drive minimal growth in agriculture, hunting, forestry and fishing (AHFF) sectors.

The sector is still largely dependent on the recovery of coconut industry, which would take five to seven years to restore its output.

The construction sub-sector, both private and public constructions, is expected to rise because of the repair of roads, bridges, buildings and houses.

“An increase in public expenditure is expected because of the reconstruction and rehabilitation efforts to address the needs of the affected communities. Implementation of major infrastructure programs and projects will also contribute to the growth in government expenditure,” Uy explained.

Looking at the trend of GRDP growth rates before super typhoon “Yolanda” struck, the target for 2015 is ambitious, according to NEDA.

In 2008, the GRDP grew at 2 percent; in 2009, it contracted by 1.8 percent, then bounced back by 2.0 percent in 2010, and grew by 2.1 percent in 2011.

However, in 2012, the already crawling economy of the region turned for the worse when it contracted by negative 6.2 percent. In 2012, it was the only region in the country that encountered a negative growth.

Eastern Visayas has a very strategic location. It plays an important role in the country because it serves as the backbone of the entire Philippine archipelago. Owing to this location, the region is the principal gateway to northern and southern parts of the country, linking Luzon and Mindanao through the Philippine Nautical Highway.

A major component of the Nautical Highway is the roll-on roll-off (RORO) ports in Northern Samar and Southern Leyte. (PNA)
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