- Written by Tribune
- Friday, 10 January 2014 00:00
Amid reports of alleged overpriced and sub-standard bunkhouses built for displaced victims of super typhoon “Yolanda” in the Visayas region, a top diplomat from Norway yesterday said the aid provided to the Philippine government by foreign donors must be used to fortify and build better structures that could withstand natural calamities.
“It is important that aid is used as opportunity to build back better because we know this is an area very prone to natural disasters,” Norwegian Foreign Minister Børge Brende stressed.
Yolanda, internationally called Haiyan, was one of the strongest typhoons to hit land with fury and force Filipinos had never seen before. Tsunami-like storm surges swept away and damaged more than a million houses and left more than 6,000 people dead. Bodies continue to be found.
More than 27,000 were injured and 1,700 others remain missing.
The United Nations (UN) said the typhoon has affected at least 14 million people and that it will take several years before the devastated areas could fully recover. Brende, who made a trip to Leyte province last Wednesday to inspect Norway’s assistance projects in the region devastated by the killer typhoon, said the government must ensure that houses, emergency centers and livelihoods should also prepare for calamities.
“What we will try is to see that it is used to build these local communities in a way that can better withstand future natural disasters,” he said.
Two months since the typhoon struck, Brende observed that the situation in the Visayas, particularly in Tacloban, Leyte and in Basey, Samar – two of the worst-hit areas – is still in a “very, very difficult situation.”
Calls for a Senate investigation on the reported overpriced and substandard bunkhouses for typhoon Yolanda survivors in Leyte and Samar provinces, meanwhile, have snowballed and two upper chamber members have already initiated the filing of a resolution to immediately effect the conduct of an inquiry.
Senators Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and Miriam Defensor-Santiago, in filing separate resolutions yesterday, beat opposition Sen. Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito Estrada who was actually the first to bring up the idea of looking into the alleged irregularities in the Department of Public Works and Highway’s (DPWH) construction of temporary shelters for typhoon victims.
Santiago’s resolution was also coupled with a call to investigate as well what she said as potential overpricing and other unscrupulous acts concerning disaster relief operations.
“The national government owes local and international typhoon relief donors transparency and accountability, and therefore must ensure that the typhoon victims should receive relief by observing internationally recognized standards and best practices,” she said.
“This controversy multiplies the suffering of our countrymen in the typhoon-affected areas, as they faced devastation from a natural disaster and the evils of corruption,” Santiago said.
Marcos, for his part, explained that he sought an inquiry to institute corrective measures that will ensure the safety and security of Yolanda survivors who have been displaced from their own homes.
“It is crucial to look into these issues to make sure that the victims of Yolanda will no longer be victimized further by corruption and abuses perpetrated by the callous culprits who take advantage of the desolate condition in the affected areas,” he stressed.
The government has started constructing bunkhouses made of galvanized iron sheets, plywood and cement, to serve as temporary shelters.
But architect and urban planner Felino Palafox Jr. questioned the quality of the bunkhouses, claiming that these are undersized and substandard based on international benchmark in the construction of temporary shelters and are, therefore, unfit for human habitation.
There were also reports alleging that the bunkhouses are overpriced, with the possible collusion between favored contractors and local politicians, and that contractors might not have followed the specifications set by the DPWH.
But President Aquino has absolved Public Works Secretary Rogelio Singson from allegations of overpricing and under specification in the construction of bunkhouses.
Aquino presided over yesterday’s Cabinet meeting, where both Presidential Adviser on Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Secretary Panfilo Lacson and Singson were present, Presidential Communications Operations Office head Herminio Coloma Jr. said.
He, however, stressed that the alleged kickbacks were not even mentioned during the meeting.
“It was not discussed during the meeting,” Coloma said.
The Palace official also noted that there were commentaries and observations that have been published which lack proof.
“These are allegations. These are assertions that are being made here and there but lack of empirical validation,” Coloma stressed.
He said the Cabinet members remain dedicated to their respective mandate under the leadership of Aquino.
In justifying that Aquino was not interested in discussing the alleged irregularities in Tacloban City, Coloma pointed out “to put things in proper perspective.”
“The President began the meeting by clarifying the role of Secretary Lacson as Presidential Assistant for Recovery and Reconstruction.
“Considering that the secretaries and heads of concerned departments and agencies are preoccupied with their regular duties, the PARR was appointed to give full-time focus on ensuring that the post-Yolanda rehabilitation and reconstruction program is implemented effectively,” Coloma said.
Coloma said Lacson as PARR chief is also tasked with coordinating private participation in rehabilitation and reconstruction.
“So the President called on everybody to work together, given this perspective, so that we will be able to well, in his words, ‘Secretary Lacson’s role is to assist all of us to do everything that needs to be done,’” Coloma said.
He stressed Aquino called for a Cabinet meeting to ensure that the post-Yolanda rehabilitation program is on track and to speed up its implementation.
A partylist lawmaker, for his part, yesterday called on the national government to rescind the contracts it had entered into with developers and blacklist them from future government contracts amid allegations of overpricing.
In a text message, Buhay Rep. Lito Atienza said it would be better for the Aquino administration to instead distribute the construction materials to the victims themselves and let them construct their own houses.
“I suggest the government should take away contractors in the construction of bunkhouses and let the victims build their new homes so that allegations of money-making in the rebuilding efforts will be a thing of the past,” he added.
Earlier, House Committee on Housing and Urban Development chairman, Negros Occidental Rep. Albee Benitez said he would be calling for an investigation on the allegations of overpricing on the bunkhouses.
Benitez’s call was supported by Anakpawis partylist Rep. Fernando Hicap who said a congressional inquiry is in order on the alleged overpriced and substandard bunkhouses constructed by the DPWH for victims of Yolanda.
Lacson earlier said he received reports that the bunkhouses are overpriced by 30-35 percent.
“It seems that these bunkhouses were designed for corruption and source of kickback by some officials,” Hicap noted.
“There is an urgent need to conduct an inquiry on the construction of bunkhouses and temporary shelter for typhoon Yolanda victims. Two months after Yolanda struck, the national government has not presented its temporary and permanent housing plan for calamity victims who lost their homes,” he said. “We need to get to the bottom of this. If the anomaly is true, then it is a great disservice and betrayal to the victims of super typhoon Yolanda.”
Meawnhile, Brende, former Secretary General of the Norwegian Red Cross, said he finds it “unfortunate” that only 40 percent of the United Nations’ $791-million appeal for the Philippines have been delivered.
While in Leyte, Brende announced that Norway is providing additional $8 million to Central Philippines in response to the UN’s call for more aid.
The fresh assistance brings Norway’s contribution to $ 43 million, making it the third largest donor to the Philippines’ rehabilitation efforts next to the United States and the United Kingdom.
As the Philippine government grapples with the daunting task of reconstruction and helping affected communities in Visayas, Brende said donors should step up its aid to the country.
“I am appealing to my colleagues in Europe and other colleagues that they would follow on this additional pledge so we can reach a much higher number than the 40 percent,” the Norwegian Minister said, adding investments should also be infused in the region.
Angie M. Rosales, Paul Atienza, Charlie V. Manalo and PNA
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