An unprecedented rehabilitation effort for Bicol after two destructive typhoons is being eyed by the national government which has buckled down to allocate about P7 billion for the region. This is part of the proposed P10 billion outlay, the remainder of which will be channeled to Southern Luzon provinces which suffered also from the same calamities.
The rehabilitation package will be discussed soon in the bicameral conference committee for inclusion in the General Apppropriations Act of 2007 according to Congressman Luis R. Villafuerte, Vice Chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, who is a member of the bicameral conference committee.
Approval of the proposed rehabilitation package is being pushed by Bicolano House leaders including Congressman Joey Salceda, House Appropriations Committee Chairman, and Congressman Edcel Lagman, both from Albay.
Meanwhile, Bicolano Senator Joker Arroyo had announced he would fully support the proposal and work for its passage in the Senate.
Earlier, President Arroyo mobilized a 250-vehicle caravan on a mercy mission to Bicol loaded with P200 million worth of goods coming from several foreign governments, local government units, non-government institutions and private corporations for typhoon victims.
At the final count, 579 persons died in Albay alone while 608 were missing and presumed also dead and buried beneath the mudslides from Mayon Volcano, and 1,986 were injured. A total of 165, 484 houses were totally destroyed and 208, 573 houses were partly damaged.
64 persons died in Camarines Sur, the province with the second biggest number of casualties in the Bicol Region.
School buildings suffered the most damage among government infrastructures and many pupils and students in Albay and Camarines Sur may not be able to continue with their classes this school year unless school officials stretch their initiatives to find temporary sites to hold classes just to finish the school year.
