A LAWMAKER from Mindanao is urging Congress to fast track the approval of a P2-billion supplemental budget for the rehabilitation and reconstruction of Cagayan de Oro City and Iligan City which were devastated by typhoon Sendong on December 16-17, 2011.

“Cagayan De Oro City and Iligan City need to be rehabilitated as soon as possible, in order for our brothers and sisters be able to recover from the tragedy and start normal lives anew,” Cagayan de Oro second district Rep. Rufus Rodriguez said.

Rodriguez has filed House Bill 5663 creating the P2-billiion Rehabilitation and Development Fund, which shall be spent judiciously for “the greatest good of the greatest number of people of Cagayan de Oro and Iligan City.” Citing a report of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) dated December 27, 2011, Rodriguez said typhoon Sendong displaced 92,964 families or 641,098 persons and left 1,249 dead, 4,594 injured, with an indefinite number of persons still missing.

“The NDRRMC also reported a total of 42,325 houses damaged with 12,805 totally destroyed and 29,520 partially damaged. In Cagayan De Oro alone, 7,317 houses were totally destroyed and 12,635 were partially damaged,” Rodriguez said. Rodriguez said the NDRRMC report placed the cost of infrastructure and agricultural damages at P1,106,556,000 and P37, 115,975, respectively.

In Cagayan De Oro alone, P775,000,000 worth of roads, bridges and other infrastructure were damaged while P9,900,000 worth of health facilities were destroyed, Rodriguez added. “These numbers are projected to increase as the debris is cleared and more search and rescue operations are conducted,” Rodriguez said.

According to Rodriguez, in Cagayan De Oro alone, damages to 14 schools were placed at P61,874,900. Among the schools that were damaged and submerged in water are the Consolacion Elementary School, Angeles Sisters National High School, Balulang West 1 Elementary School and Bonbon North 2 Elementary School. In Iligan City, 12 schools and 136 classrooms were damaged, Rodriguez said.

Rodriguez said the supplemental budget is urgently required not only for the construction and rehabilitation but also for the provision of basic necessities to the evacuees including food and non-food items to give them access to proper hygiene.

“Debris clean up is a priority as well as provisions for temporary shelter but from there, there is a need to conduct an in-depth assessment and analysis to look into early recovery and rehabilitation concerns and start the rebuilding process and the placement and strengthening of early warning procedures and preparedness on the issues of zoning and identification of possible relocation sites,” Rodriguez said. Under the measure co-authored by Abante Mindanao Partylist Rep. Maximo Rodriguez Jr., the Rehabilitation and Development Fund shall be used to cover the repair, rehabilitation and construction of roads, bridges, irrigation systems, school buildings, government buildings, sea ports and airports, hospitals and other public infrastructure; purchases of hospital equipment, supplies and medicines; purchases of relocation sites, construction of housing units; and funding for the Comprehensive Integrated Delivery of Social Services (CIDSS) under the Department of Social Welfare and Development, livelihood programs, agricultural assistance and other support programs for farmers and fisher folks. The Rehabilitation and Development Fund shall be released to the relevant departments, bureaus, offices in accordance with budgeting and related relevant laws, rules and regulations.