DAVAO ORIENTAL, December 16 --- One year after the onslaught of Super Typhoon Pablo, residents of the three hard-hit towns rallied with provincial government on Wednesday, Dec.4 in marking the first anniversary of the disaster, which according to the provincial government, has defined Davao Oriental as a province.
While typhoon Pablo is now being regarded as a mere part of the province’s history, the provincial government exalts the acts of heroism and generosity of the many people who helped in recovery and rehabilitation efforts.
“One year seemed too short to regain some semblance of normalcy and healing from our Pablo experience, yet, we have done and achieved so much. But all these would not have been possible without the unstinting and dedicated support of our partner agencies, both national and international, government and private,” Governor Corazon N. Malanyaon told an audience of thousands in the three towns still recovering from the devastating storm.
She lauded the quick response of the Philippine Army, DSWD, together with humanitarian organizations in working with the provincial government in the efficient delivery of relief goods to the affected areas up to the remotest villages.
Governor Malanyaon, during the commemoration service, listed several steps the provincial government has taken to expedite the province’s recovery and rehabilitation.
She said that the smooth flow of the response to typhoon Pablo was made possible through the early mobilization of emergency relief operations as well as the crafting of the province’s comprehensive rehabilitation and development framework plan dubbed as the Building Back Better Agenda, which eventually became the basis of business proposals and rehabilitation projects, including the provision of permanent shelters.
At the affected towns, continuous constructions of permanent shelters have been underway, to complete initially more than 7,000 shelters committed by the national government. To date, there are about a thousand shelter homes which will soon be turned over to their respective beneficiaries, while families with partially damaged homes have received Emergency Cash Assistance (ESA) ranging from P7, 000- P10, 000, depending on the extent of damage.
Aside from the national government, Gov. Malanyaon thanked the several foundations and charitable institutions who extended help to provide permanent homes for homeless typhoon victims, which include PLDT-Smart Foundation under MVP Group of Companies, Gawad Kalinga, and Tan Yan Kee Foundation. Other shelter donors include Senator Cynthia Villar and Sen. Ralph Recto who will also put up shelter units in resettlement sites in Cateel which are currently undergoing land development.
Debris Management, on the other hand was also an outstanding success. Aside from clearing of the debris through cash and food for work programs, projects on converting debris to livelihood, through production of other products with commercial value, were implemented. These include driftwood processing, rosary–making out of coco-beads, carpentry workshop and material recovery facility and fiber-board processing facility.
Meanwhile, aside from the short-term livelihood already implemented in the areas through the assistance of the Department of Agriculture, Governor Malanyaon also bared the forthcoming industries that will soon be put up in the province, intended to revive the local industry and economy.
Through the industry networks and contacts established by the provincial government, several companies signified interest to invest and locate in Davao Oriental. These include the Indonesia-based Indofoods of the Salim Group of Companies and the Thailand-based Univanich Company, who are both interested to put up Palm Oil Plantation in the affected areas. Another investor, Design, Invest Develop (DID) Group of Companies, a Dutch-Caribbean giant conglomerate expressed their interest in investing in energy projects, sewerage and water treatment facility, solid-waste facility and tourism-related projects.
“Our experience with Super typhoon Pablo is indeed a defining moment for Davao Oriental. It has tried the extent of our courage, undaunted spirit and resiliency as a people. It has measured mankind’s capacity for goodness and generosity. It has tested the foundation of our governance and leadership. And, I am proud to say that we have stood up to the challenge as we joined hands with our supporters and partners and with the Almighty’s guidance and providence,” said Governor Malanyaon.
“We still have to continue with our rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts for the Pablo areas of Davao Oriental. Our “Building-Back-Better” agenda is still a long way to go. But having gone through the birth pains of this year, and having put in place operational mechanisms, we are positive that we can harness more resources and partners… we can do more … and, we can do better in the subsequent years,” she added. (Karen Lou Deloso, PIO)
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