by Joyce Pangco Pañares
Foreign-funded rehabilitation projects for infrastructure and agriculture damaged by storm Ondoy and typhoon Pepeng are exempted from a public works ban set by the Commission on Elections ahead of the May 14 elections.
Justice Secretary Agnes Devanadera said the ban would take effect on March 30 but it would not cover the rehabilitation of infrastructure because these were critical projects that need to be rebuilt or repaired in the aftermath of the storm. “We have an extraordinary situation here because these infrastructure projects are not the type that might be exploited by politicians who are running for local positions, which is what the Comelec ban aims to prevent,” Devanadera said. “In fact, the reconstruction and rehabilitation period will go beyond the term of President Arroyo. It will probably take a year to finish everything.”
Under the Comelec guidelines, the Public Works Department will not be allowed to bid or release funds or award new projects 45 days before and after a local election.
The issue was raised by Finance Secretary Margarito Teves, who co-chairs the Special National Public-Private Reconstruction commission together with Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. president Manuel Pangilinan and Cebu Archbishop Ricardo Vidal.
The commission was tasked to seek fresh foreign aid for the massive rehabilitation program that will have to be implemented.
The Office of Civil Defense estimates damage to infrastructure and agriculture reaching P30 billion, including more than 500 schools, close to P1 billion in irrigation and flood-control projects, and at least P26 million in roads and bridges.
The commission was ordered to serve not only as a clearing house for international assistance but also as spearhead of pledging sessions for foreign aid before the United Nations and the World Bank.
Source: http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/insideNation.htm?f=2009/october/19/nation2.isx&d=/2009/october/19
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