Special commission to rehabilitate RP after killer cyclones proposed

Presidential economic adviser Jose Salceda on Sunday proposed the creation of a special commission that would lead rehabilitation efforts in areas devastated by tropical cyclones “Ondoy" and “Pepeng." Salceda, who also serves as governor of Albay province, said the government should also seek a $1-billion (P46-billion) aid that would be implemented by the proposed Special Commission for Ondoy and Pepeng Reconstruction Fund (SCOPE-RF). “While Ondoy had more damage on infrastructure, Pepeng’s impact was on agriculture. Both calamities, however, surfaced the policy imperative to relocate those vulnerable to landslides for Pepeng and those at risk to flooding," he said. Ondoy, which wrecked havoc last Sept. 26, left close to 300 people dead in Metro Manila and several areas in Rizal, Laguna, Cavite and Batangas. Pepeng, meanwhile, caused major flooding and landslides in northern Luzon in a week-long onslaught, leaving more than 250 people dead. Millions were rendered homeless because of the two cyclones.

Salceda said the P46-billion aid would be broken down into P20 billion for relocation, P21 billion for infrastructure rehabilitation, and P5 billion for livelihood and agriculture. He said this also means P27 billion for victims of storm Ondoy, P12 billion for typhoon Pepeng, and P7 billion for typhoon Frank, which likewise caused severe damages to infrastructure last year. Of the P12 billion he proposed to be allotted for Pepeng victims, Salceda said P3 billion would be for infrastructure rehabilitation, P4 billion for agriculture, and P5 billion for relocation. Of the P27 billion for Ondoy, P11 billion should be for infrastructure rehabilitation, P1 billion for agriculture, and P15 billion for relocation. He said the P7 billion for Frank victims should be used for infrastructure. He said the other alternative to seeking a $1-billion aid to finance reconstruction is to “raise taxes or slash other priorities, which are neither feasible nor desirable since they just shift pesos from the left hand to the right hand." The proposed commission would be composed of representatives from government, church, big business and civil society, according to Salceda’s proposal. Among the personalities Salceda is eyeing to compose the group are PLDT's Manuel Pangilinan as chairman, and Social Welfare Secretary Esperanza Cabral and Manila Archbishop Gaudencio Rosales as co-chairs. - GMANews.TV