80% of Bicol’s rehab projects completed — Ebdane LEGAZPI CITY—The National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) reported today that at least 80 percent of the rehabilitation projects for the Bicol provinces of Camarines Sur, Camarines Norte, Albay, Catanduanes, Sorsogon and Masbate have been completed.

Outgoing NDCC Chair Hermogenes Ebdane made the report during the NDCC-Cabinet Cluster meeting presided over by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo this afternoon at the Provincial Capitol Building in Legazpi City.

Ebdane said there are still 900 ongoing projects set to be completed between July and September.

The projects were damaged by four consecutive typhoons last year—Milenyo, Paeng, Reming,and Seniang.

According to him, the President is “pleased” with the pace the works on these rehabilitation projects are going.

Some P3.41 billion is available to fund the remaining projects while the Countryside Assistance for Rural Employment and Services (CARES)- funded projects would have an additional P8 billion once the 14th Congress approves the 2008 proposed budget.

“The repair of physical structures will be completed by end July,” Ebdane assured.

The projects that are yet to be done include the completion of housing units for the victims as well as livelihood projects for the displaced families.

Also discussed in the meeting was the strengthening of the government’s disaster mitigation and preparedness program in a move to save more lives and limbs in the event of any disaster that would hit the country.

Some 3.39 million persons in the Bicol region were displaced, 1,158 left dead, 223,000 houses were totally destroyed and millions worth of agricultural crops were damaged in the aftermath of the four successive typhoons that directly hit the area last year.

Reference: Vice-Consul Gines Gallaga Press & Information Officer Email: ggallaga@cox.net <mailto:ggallaga@cox.net> Tel: 202-467-9389 Or Erik Lorenzana Email: rppress@verizon.net <mailto:rppress@verizon.net> Tel: 202-467-9432