NEDA ready to lead crafting of recovery plan for Ompong-hit areas

DAMAGED BY ‘OMPONG’. An aerial shot of areas in northern Luzon hit hard by Typhoon “Ompong” over the weekend. (Karl Norman Alonzo/Presidential Photo)

MANILA — The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) will lead the planning for the rehabilitation of regions devastated by Typhoon “Ompong” last week.

As vice chair for Rehabilitation of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, NEDA takes the lead in formulating the Rehabilitation and Recovery Program (RRP) for areas struck by disasters or calamities.

“Our NEDA regional offices are ready to take the lead in formulating the RRP for areas hit by Typhoon Ompong. As we transition from the Early Recovery Stage of restoring lifelines and releasing emergency assistance, we hope to build back better infrastructure and speed up recovery of livelihood in the Rehabilitation Stage,” Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia said during the President and the Cabinet’s visit to Cagayan and Ilocos Norte over the weekend.

He added that NEDA will have a hand in drafting the Post-Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA), particularly in determining the typhoon’s economic impact.

The PDNA will help in estimating the cost of rehabilitation and in the formulation of a detailed RRP.

“With the Philippines’ position along the Pacific Ring of Fire and with climate change bringing us stronger and bigger storms, we must be proactive in adapting new technologies and measures that will reduce our vulnerability to natural disasters,” Pernia said.

He said the Philippine Development Plan 2017-2022 identifies the Evacuation Center Act as a priority legislation that will establish permanent and typhoon-resilient evacuation centers in every municipality and city in the country.

The proposed bill is pending in Congress.