Ping eyes 2016 finish of 'Yolanda' rehab

MANILA - Rehabilitation czar Panfilo Lacson on Monday said the full implementation of the rehabilitation plan in areas stricken by super typhoon "Yolanda" will begin in February. In a press briefing, Lacson said the government is still in the process of gathering information on the extent of damage caused by the super typhoon. He said he hopes to finish the rehabilitation in four years. Lacson again called on the private sector to pitch in on the recovery efforts. "I am adhering to a policy of inclusion, meaning lahat ng tulong na i-o-offer sa effort na ito most welcome. Marami pa kaming ina-iron out. Naghahanap din kami ng legal basis to undertake the rehab efforts at smooth lahat hanggang sa mag deactivate kami after we accomplished our mission," he said. Lacson said he has no choice but to deactivate the work by June 2016 once a new President comes in. "Pagpalit ng administrasyon, depende na lang sa pag appreciate nila kung how to go about the rehab. That is why I'm thinking how to maximize the part of the private sector kasi mas mabilis pag nandiyan ang private sector," he said. The rehabilitation czar earlier said two established companies are set to take care of the rehabilitation and recovery efforts in four areas in Leyte, Samar, Iloilo and Northern Cebu which were damaged by Super Typhoon Yolanda. He is also consulting with experts from the Japan International Cooperation Agency, United Nations Development Program and Presidential Working Unit for Development Monitoring and Control, which led the rehabilitation of Aceh, Indonesia after it was hit by calamity on Boxing Day 2004. Lacson, who visited Samar and Leyte last week, admitted that the damage left behind by Yolanda is so massive the rehabilitation process will take time. “In Palo, Leyte, the devastation was 99 percent while in Guiuan, it was 100 percent,” he said. With a report by The Philippine Star