Tacloban Mayor Grateful to PRRD for Yolanda Rehab Efforts

Tacloban City Mayor Cristina G. Romualdez expressed her gratitude to President Rodrigo Duterte for pushing the national government agencies to implement the Yolanda projects the soonest possible time.

This was emphasized by the local chief executive during a press conference held at Patio Victoria, San Jose as Tacloban marked the fourth year anniversary that brought devastation in the city.

“Siyempre we are very grateful although alam naman natin na hindi pa tapos ngayon pero we are very grateful to the present government, of course, to President Duterte na talagang binibigyan niya ng push or timeline itong mga national agencies, especially yung mga permanent houses,” Romualdez said.

Romualdez’ reply was in response to the statement of Presidential Assistant for Special Concerns Undersecretary Wendel Avisado that the government is doing its best to complete the projects in Yolanda corridors within two years.

As of 31 October 2017, from the original housing allocation of approximately 16,250 housing units, the city mayor was able to increase the grant to a total of 18,193

housing units for the underprivileged and homeless Yolanda typhoon victims.

Meanwhile, of the 14,433 housing projects of the National Housing Authority (NHA) in the city, 10,677 units were already completed and 9,538 are ready for occupancy while 5,580 were occupied as validated by the city housing office.

As to NGO sponsored resettlement projects, of the 3,760 housing units, 1,635 were almost occupied.

To provide electricity light to different resettlement areas, the city has installed around 628 streetlights inside the subdivisions.

Moreover, the city shouldered the costs for secondary lines while for NHA projects, the LEYECO II has agreed to connect electricity to the beneficiaries even without the required application and supporting documents.

As to transportation, Ceres Bus Company donated 6 buses to the city government to help in transporting students and workers from the northern barangays to the city proper. In addition, last October 25, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) has approved resolution no. 22 granting the opening of missionary routes for Tacloban north.

With the approval of the request, 45 new public transport franchises will be opened that would cater to the entire Tacloban north where resettlement sites are located.

In order to solve the water problem in the northern barangays, the city is working to install pipelines to the North while proposals and programs of work were already submitted to the Office of the Cabinet Secretary and other concerned agencies for funding a sustainable water supply system.

To date, the city has already procured six water tankers delivering 130 tons of water to the resettlement sites daily. (ajc/cba/PIA8)