Senator Christopher “Bong” Go said Tuesday that Task Force Rolly, a special task force that would focus on recovery and rehabilitation efforts for areas hit by Super Typhoon Rolly, should be established.
“Isa-suggest ko kay Pangulong Duterte, and I have discussed with General Manager Escalada of the NHA, na tulad po ng ginawa nila sa Yolanda na magkaroon ng task force for rehabilitation, gumawa rin tayo ng Task Force Rolly kasi ‘di naman po Catanduanes lang ang tinamaan dito,” Go said in an interview in Catanduanes.
Task Force Rolly would be significant in ensuring that the different government agencies are well-coordinated in their service delivery, Go added.
Super Typhoon Rolly affected over two million people in different regions nationwide, with the Bicol region being among those severely damaged.
The senator said the affected local government units’ calamity funds should be augmented since most of them have already used their COVID-19 pandemic response resources.
Calabarzon, Mimaropa, and the Bicol region should get an additional local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund equivalent to 1% of their respective Internal Revenue Allotments.
“Nagkausap na kami ni [Budget] Secretary Avisado. Hihingi lang kami ng approval kay Presidente, ‘yun pong aking recommendation na maglaan ng 1% po para sa budget,” he said.
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Bong Go wants creation of Task Force Rolly
“Kasi ang 5% po na calamity funds ngayon ay ubos na po. Nagamit na po (laban sa COVID-19) because we’re under the state of national emergency right now,” he added.
Residents in the country’s 27 areas—including those affected by Rolly—are currently bracing for another weather disturbance, Typhoon Ulysses.
At 10:00 AM today, the center of Typhoon Ulysses was located based on all available data, including Daet Doppler Radar at 100 km North of Virac, Catanduanes.
Destructive winds and intense with at times torrential rainfall associated with the region of the eyewall and inner rainbands of the typhoon will be experienced over the northern portions of Catanduanes, Camarines Sur, and Camarines Norte until tonight and over Aurora and the northern portion of Quezon tonight through tomorrow early morning.