TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte, April 9 (PIA) – Secretary Mar Roxas of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) visited Samar and Leyte Wednesday to assess the on-going rehabilitation efforts of the government in areas affected by typhoon Yolanda.
Upon his arrival, Roxas proceeded to the municipality of Sta. Rita Western Samar where he conducted a site visit of the town’s newly rehabilitated civic center and proceeded then to Sta.
Rita Police Station where he attended the inauguration.
He also met Samar Governor Sharee Ann Tan, Leyte Governor Leopoldo Dominico L. Petilla and some mayors in Samar whose areas have availed of the projects undertaken by the Recovery Assistance on Yolanda (RAY 1).
Afterwards, Roxas went to Ormoc City where he attended the inauguration of P51-million Ormoc City Superdome which is 90% constructed and the P40-million Ormoc City public market.
There, he also met with the beneficiaries of the RAY 2 projects in Leyte and Biliran provinces. Afterwards, he went to Palo where he inspected the town’s newly rehabilitated multi-purpose center/ civic center and met the local officials led by Gov. Petilla.
In an interview with Secretary Roxas, he revealed that sixty percent of the projects in Eastern Visayas which are funded by the Recovery Assistance on Yolanda (RAY) of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) are fully completed.
“Another 15% of the projects will be completed in the next two months and another 25% will be completed in the following three months,” Roxas added.
When asked of his own personal assessment, the official said he is happy the way the projects are being implemented by the LGUs for it will help in the recovery of the local residents.
However, he admitted, that much has to be done to fully recover from the devastation of typhoon Yolanda considering its huge impact.
These include rehabilitation of municipal halls, multi-purpose halls, civic centers, public markets and other public facilities.
With this development, Roxas expects that by the second half of this year, 80 to 90% of the infra projects will be completed.
In the region, 65 municipalities and cities have availed of the Recovery Assistance on Yolanda (RAY 1) project of the national government. (aen/cba/PIA-8)
