Tuesday, September 23, 2008 Funds for Panay rehab cut to P10.4 billion
THE National Government is expected to scale down the proposed budget for the rehabilitation of Panay Island due to flood devastation brought by Typhoon Frank from P15 billion to P10.4 billion.
The slump down was mainly caused by the worldwide financial crisis as the world market collapsed, especially in the United States.
Presidential Assistant Dr. Raul Banias confirmed this Monday before going to Manila to submit the amended rehabilitation budget to the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).
Banias is also the action officer of Task Force Panay created by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to look into the needs for relief, reconstruction and rehabilitation of the city and province of Iloilo, Aklan, Capiz, Antique, Negros Occidental, Bacolod City and Guimaras.
The President has certified House Bill 4824 filed by Iloilo Representative Arthur Defensor as urgent in calling for a P15 billion rehabilitation fund for areas in Western Visayas affected by flood spawned by Typhoon Frank last June 21-22.
Banias said that DBM instructed the amount should not exceed P10.5 billion to be included in the supplemental budget of 2008 while the other financial requirements may be included in the General Appropriations Act (GAA) of 2009.
Hopefully, the amount will be realized before the end of this year and rehabilitation on infrastructures to be in full swing by early 2009.
The Defensor bill also calls for the creation of the Western Visayas Rehabilitation and Development Commission with a life span of three years that will put Task Force Panay, chaired by Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez Sr., and Task Force action officer Banias under the commission which will also rationalize the role of the task force and the inclusion of a budget for its operation. (Lydia C. Pendon)
