Foreign aid to landslide victims: short and long term views

The families in Southern Leyte that suffered from the landslides are being assisted not only by the Philippine Government but by foreign countries as well.

For short term assistance, UNICEF is providing substantial assistance in terms of relief goods for household needs and for school children. As I write this column, Mr. Ed Callanta of UNICEF Manila is on his way with two NEDA staff members to San Francisco and San Ricardo, Southern Leyte to deliver goods worth about P2 Million.

The Japan Bank for International Cooperation is asking the help of NEDA for proposals that it can fund. Consequently, two NEDA Engineers are visiting the landslide sites on January 12 and 13 to talk with local officials of the affected communities on possible projects. I foresee a comprehensive program to protect the environment, promote employment, and improve roads, drainage and seaports in the affected areas.

What is very clear is that this tragedy has attracted worldwide attention and generosity. It is now the task of the national and local governments to make sure that assistance is planned, directed, monitored and evaluated properly.

A long-term view must be taken. It should go beyond relief and rehabilitation and tackle ways of improving the sustainability of present efforts.

Offhand, I see the need for a planning activity that considers proper land use that protects both the environment and the people living there.

There are other landslide-prone areas of the region that must also be attended to. Many other parts of the islands of Leyte, Samar and Biliran are prone to landslides and floods.

Two examples (Ormoc and Panaon Islands) are more than enough to make us realize this is a problem we must solve and this threat must be eliminated to improve the safety of many communities in Eastern Visayas.