LGU dad appeals for public-private partnership to redesign a disaster- proof St. Bernard

By ES GORNE, PIA Southern Leyte
February 18, 2011

ST. BERNARD, Southern Leyte  –  “Ano ang taya mo?” The battle cry of Municipal Mayor Rico  Rentuza as he invited for a public-private partnership in redesigning and rebuilding St. Bernard into a disaster-free municipality during the Disaster Risk Reduction Management (DRRM) forum at Cristo Rey High School Social Hall, Thursday, February 18, 2011.

Mayor Rico Rentuza, who spearheaded in the 5th commemoration of the Guinsaugon landslide, met with the various private and public agencies who responded to his five-year recovery plan at the DRRM forum right after the Holy Mass at the New Guinsaugon Relocation Site.

Mayor Rentuza hoped to begin the process of a disaster-free nation building right in St. Bernard as he called on those present to take their share in moving at least 1,300 families of St. Bernard to safer grounds in his presentation yesterday.

Mayor Rentuza disclosed that the municipality could have taken off from the 2006 calamity, however with the onslaught of the tail end cold front that brought incessant rains resulted to flooding and landslides, more barangays were greatly affected and needed assistance, thus the municipality is back to zero.

He said that the task to relocate some areas of Barangays Tambis Tabon-tabon, Mahayag, Malinao and Sitio Ma. Asuncion (Barangay San Isidro), portions of Barangay Bolod-bolod, Catmon, Maria Asuncion, Hindag-an and Himbangan for permanent relocation and the task is gigantic but he intended to start in smaller scales, he added.

He clearly illuminated that the five year recovery plan is anchored on the following aspects: The livelihood assistance, that relocating these families need livelihood assistance since they are moving in another environment.  Secondly, the need for the acquisition and development of relocation sites and building of their new houses.  Third is the dire need to construct their own primary hospital since the district hospital of Anahawan is located in another town, and fourth will be the rehabilitation of now three-pronged and wild Lawigan River that brought at least three barangays underwater including their rice fields during heavy rains.

Mayor Rentuza appealed for help since their municipality’s coffers which is P2.4 million where 70% is intended for the preventive measures and 30% is mandated to be utilized for the relief assistance is surely not enough for the great task to rebuild St. Bernard and move people to safer grounds.