Haiyan rehab blueprint: ‘Failure means suffering’

Rappler.com

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More than a month after Typhoon Yolanda, known internationally as Haiyan, the Philippines releases its rehabilitation plan for the biggest reconstruction effort after World War II. Paterno Esmaquel reports.

MANILA, Philippines – More than a month after Typhoon Yolanda, known internationally as Haiyan, the Philippines releases its rehabilitation plan for the biggest reconstruction effort after World War II.

Paterno Esmaquel reports. (Watch Rappler’s video report below.)

(The script of the video report follows.)

When nature’s fury rages, people run to the nearest school building.

But rehabilitation czar Ping Lacson wants to turn hospitals into permanent evacuation centers.

Lacson says a hospital has everything evacuees need.

PING LACSON, REHABILITATION CZAR: ‘Yun ang pinakapraktikal na gawin mong evacuation center, kasi nandoon na eh. Dadagdagan mo na lang ng ibang components, kasi may ospital na nga ‘yon, may doktor, may pagkain.

(That’s the most practical place to turn into an evacuation center. You’ll just have to add a few components, because it already has hospital facilities, doctors, food.)

This is part of an ambitious plan: Reconstruction Assistance on Yolanda or RAY, the blueprint to rebuild the lives of more than 16 million people devastated by Yolanda.

BENIGNO AQUINO III, PHILIPPINE PRESIDENT: Through RAY, we are not just settling for the minimum – we do not want our countrymen merely to make do. We are taking this chance not just to rebuild what was destroyed, but again, to build back better.

The government needs around P360.9 billion to rebuild devastated regions.

Half of this amount will go to rebuilding homes. Up to P28.4 billion will go to public infrastructure, like hospitals and schools.

Aquino says the country is ready for this historic rebuilding.

BENIGNO AQUINO III, PHILIPPINE PRESIDENT: The reasons for this confidence? First, because we know that we are not alone…The second and most important reason can be found in the attitude of the thousands of volunteers and relief workers I saw – an attitude that states, with the utmost certainty, “Our failure means the suffering of our fellowmen and therefore we cannot fail.”

But the government faces early challenges, like Lacson having no power over the budget. (READ/WATCH: Lacson as rehab czar: Does he need more powers?)

The government needs to address these hitches, because it takes more than a blueprint for millions to rise from the ruins.

Paterno Esmaquel, Rappler, Manila

– Rappler.com

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