REHABILITATION FUND. Naga City Planning Officer Engr. Joveno Garcia (second from left) presents to Central Visayas Regional Development Council the proposed investment programs for the landslide-hit Naga City on Friday, Dec. 14, 2018. (Photo by John Rey Saavedra)
CEBU CITY -- The City of Naga in Cebu has welcomed the recommendation of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA-7) to endorse to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) its investment program intended for the rehabilitation and recovery programs and projects for the barangays hit by landslide last September.
The proposed budget in the amount of PHP1.788 billion will fund the infrastructure projects, relocation sites, evacuation centers, and other cross-sectoral needs of the city.
According to the briefer provided by NEDA-7 to the RDC-7, the funds for the proposed investment projects will be sourced through the local funds of Naga City, the Province of Cebu, NDRRMC, the regular budget from the national line agencies, and the private sector.
Apo Cement Corp., the private entity situated in Barangay Tinaan where the landslide occurred in September, vowed to assist the local government of Naga in providing the victims with relocation sites. The landslide killed 78 residents, while eight others went missing.
Eight projects, the NEDA briefer reads, will be implemented in 2019. These will be funded through the NDRRM fund, quick response fund (QRF), calamity fund, and the Balance Housing Development compliance fund under Republic Act 7279 or the Urban Development and Housing Act of 1992.
The biggest funding for Naga City’s rehabilitation program is the PHP184.500 million site development for the three relocation sites intended for the residents of Tinaan.
The construction of 192 housing units in the relocation site will be bankrolled by the 2019 National Housing Authority calamity fund in the amount of PHP86.400 million.
The NDRRM fund amounting to PHP150 million will be used to construct the reinforced revetment at the Pangdan river.
Around PHP36 million from the NDRRM fund of 2019 will be used to construct disaster-resilient evacuation center, and PHP510,000, for the establishment of flood early warning system in Pangdan river.
Naga City Mayor Kristine Vanessa Chiong provided the NEDA-7 with the proposed budget for relocation sites and evacuation centers.
The RDC-7 tackled Friday the proposals during the council’s full council meeting at the One Central Hotel in this city.
NEDA-7 through regional director Efren Carreon recommended to the Regional Development Council – Central Visayas for approval of Naga City’s proposed rehabilitation and recovery programs and projects. In turn, the RDC-7 Full Council chaired by Kenneth Cobonpue immediately approved the recommendation of the NEDA-7.
It can be recalled that on Sept. 20, 2018, a massive landslide hit sitios Sindulan and Tagaytay in Naga City with an affected area of 80.12 hectares.
Around 444 families abandoned their homes located in the critical zone. A total of 1,947 families or 8,091 internally displaced individuals had to be evacuated to 11 evacuation centers, and most of them stayed at the Enan Chiong Activity Center and public schools in Naga City. (PNA)
