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Philippines

Philippines: PGMA orders continued relief and rehab efforts in Central Mindanao

Polomolok, South Cotabato (24 July) -- Press Secretary Jesus Dureza said at a press conference Monday that President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has issued a directive for the continued relief and rehabilitation efforts in Central Mindanao's typhoon-affected areas.

This directive came after convening the Regional Disaster Coordinating Council (RDCC) XII where she herself presided the meeting at the posh Kalsangi Clubhouse here.

Among the tasks highlighted in the President's directive, Secretary Dureza revealed, were dredging and removal of silt at waterways in the areas worst-hit by typhoon "Frank."

Dureza said the President cited particularly" the immediate rehabilitation of agricultural land of the municipality of Lambayong, Sultan Kudarat being a rice granary" with 5,000 hectares supporting the rice requirement of the residents in the region.

He said one of the recommended actions that surfaced during the meeting was the creation of a task force "to consolidate and coordinate a collective effort in terms of rehabilitating the areas and accessing possible funds" for the rehabilitation of Central Mindanao.

The task force will also assess "the need to really work on the Liguasan Marsh River Basin Project that has been long pending; will now be given some focus and part of the work of the task force that is being recommended will be to look into this," the Secretary explained.

Dureza said that part of the rehab plan that has to be discussed will also include livelihood of many families displaced by the typhoon.

Although he stressed that there was no commitment of the release of fund yet from the President, Dureza noted, however, that the revenues collected from the Expanded Value Added Tax (e-VAT) will be the main source of fund for the reforms of the area.

"This is another example of where VAT, despite of its so-called criticisms coming from other sectors, is now bringing benefits to areas affected by calamities," he told national and local media.

Dureza also said that finalization of the creation of the task force will have to wait for another day since the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) will be part of its coverage and that the President will still be meeting the ARMM officials tomorrow (July 22) in Shariff Kabunsuan.

"The President said that she will have to consult the other stakeholders on the recommended creation of the task force," the Secretary, who hails from Mindanao, emphasized when asked on the composition of the task force. (CTA/PIA SarGen)