Disaster Rehabilitation

Housing

• The Core Shelter Projects in Bicol by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) funded under the Bicol Calamity Assistance and Rehabilitation Efforts (B-CARE) fund was moving at a slow-paced implementation. Of the 4,100 core shelter units targeted to be constructed by DSWD, only 1,940 houses were built for a 47.31 per cent accomplishment. A year had passed after two super typhoons (Milenyo and Reming) wreaked havoc to Bicol yet thousands of families still live in tent camps and transit areas across the region.
   

• The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the Habitat for Humanity will build 495 more core shelter units for families in the region. DSWD and Habitat for Humanity Philippines Foundation (HFHP) signed a memorandum of agreement for the construction of the shelter units. Under the agreement, DSWD will release some P34.6 million as its counterpart for the construction of the housing units. The total project cost is P42.075 million.
   

• The International Organization for Migration (IOM) together with the European Commission Humanitarian Aid Department (ECHO) turned over some 579 temporary shelter houses to 1,050 villagers who are still housed in various evacuation tents and school rooms in the town of Daraga, Albay. The 579 units constructed form part of the targeted 649 temporary shelter for homeless families in the towns of Daraga and Camalig, who are still in various evacuation camps.

Bridge Replacement Projects

• Construction of the Travesia Bridge along the Daang Maharlika section in Guinobatan, Albay has been completed. This bridge was on the point of collapse after the passage of Mercy Caravan on December 13, 2006. Tobgon Bridge in Ligao City, which also collapsed due to Typhoon Reming, would be finished before the end of January 2008, if good weather prevails. according to the DPWH5. These bridge replacement projects were funded under the Fiscal Year 2007 Budget RA 9336 as re-enacted, amounting to P24.70 million for Travesia Bridge and P35.10 million for Tobgon Bridge.

CARE Projects Update

• On the assessment of the Bicol Calamity Assistance and Rehabilitation Effort (B-CARE) projects, DPWH5 Regional Director Orlando Roces reported that 133 sections of the national highway were repaired, 65 flood control systems were dredged, flood dikes were constructed in various river and lahar flow sections, 9 seawalls were repaired and 10 other structures rehabilitated.
   

• Only three projects involving repair of national highways and reconstruction of a bridge in Albay have not yet started due to some technical and engineering problems, but negotiations are underway for the implementation of said projects. DPWH District Engineers expect to complete the 22 per cent backlog by the first quarter of 2008.
   

• On the B-CARE School Building project, the Department of Education (DepED) in Bicol reported a 99 percent accomplishment with 766 new classrooms constructed and 7,127 classrooms repaired costing P1.2 billion. However, local chief executives questioned the DEPED report saying that there are still school buildings in their respective areas that have to be constructed or repaired. A validating team composed of representatives from DPWH, DepED, and LGU will check on the school building projects reportedly having been implemented.

Disaster Mitigation

• The Municipal Disaster Coordinating Council in Irosin, Sorsogon declared an estimated P25 million in damages following the lahar flow triggered by heavy rains on the third week of October. Mayor Lilia Gonzales of Irosin reported that the successive lahar flows destroyed several major infrastructure projects in her locality, including agricultural products. (Source: Manila Times 10/24/07)
   

• The provincial government of Albay spent P19.5 million for the evacuation of some 32,000 families or 172,000 persons in various evacuation centers in towns of Daraga, Camalig, Guinobatan, Sto. Domingo, Malilipot and the cities of Legazpi and Tabaco. Gov. Joey Salceda enforced preemptive evacuation efforts upon instruction of the President to avoid the repetition of what happened during super-typhoon “Reming” on November 30, 2006.
   

• Packing center winds of 170 kilometers per hour, typhoon Mina suddenly changed its course sparing the Bicol region. Instead, Mina made landfall in Aurora, Quezon. The Bicol Regional Disaster Coordinating Council (RDCC) reported to the NDCC a total of 250,482 people or 54,651 families evacuated to temporary shelters in Albay, Sorsogon, Camarines Sur, Camarines Norte and Catanduanes out of the typhoon’s expected path. Per report rendered by Office of Civil Defense (OCD) in Bicol, 12 persons died in the region — nine in Camarines Sur, two in Catanduanes and one in Camarines Norte from landslides and flashflood triggered by the continuous heavy rains in said provinces, despite the change of course in Mina’s expected trajectory.