The Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) will turn over to the local government of Padada, Davao del Sur hammers, saws, nails and lumber to help the town and its people rebuild the public market and their houses following the devastation caused by the Magnitude 6.9 Earthquake on Dec. 15.
Sec. Roy Cimatu of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) immediately approved yesterday my verbal request through a phone call for DENR to turn over to MinDA confiscated wood products and lumber.
“Automatic yan Apo Secretary. I will order (Asec) Jim (Sampulna) to provide you the lumber that you need so we can help the LGUs rebuild,” Sec. Cimatu told me by phone yesterday afternoon.
The lumber to be turned over by DENR to MinDA will be complemented with supplies of hammers, saws and nails which will come from the funds donated by the Philippine Business Council in Indonesia through Ambassador Leehiong Wee and Mark Castro.
Filipinos in Indonesia raised about P1.2-M which was turned over to the Don Bosco Foundation of Mindanao which proposed that the money be used to help earthquake victims build or rebuild their houses by providing them with the tools needed.
The need for wood to construct a temporary market was relayed to MinDA by Padada Mayor Pedro Caminero, Jr. during a MinDA assessment mission in Padada yesterday which involved dozens of MinDA officials and employees.
Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa arrived later while the Mayor was briefing the MinDA officials and staff on the extent of the damage and the things that the town needed urgently.
Sen. Dela Rosa noted that while there is enough assistance for the affected civilian population in the earthquake-hit areas, the national government must focus on the damaged government buildings both owned by national agencies and local government units.
He said he will take up the problem during the opening of the Senate in January and work for the allocation of emergency funds to help LGUs rebuild government facilities.
The practical measures which came up during the short visit to Padada town yesterday and the meeting with the local people has given truism to the old Japanese saying shared to me by a fellow passenger during my flight back home to the Philippines Saturday, Mel Manguinao of California: “To know, You Go!”
Indeed, officials who get out of the air-conditioned offices and walk an extra kilometre to talk to our people will more likely learn practical solutions to problems on the ground.
(Photos by Samuel Ponsica, MinDA)
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