Ping Lacson Cites Govt-Private Sector Partnership, Other Lasting Lessons from Yolanda Rehab Work

TACLOBAN CITY – The partnership between government and the private sector – including non-government and civil society organizations (NGO/CSO) – is invaluable in helping Filipinos recover from major calamities like Super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) in 2013.

This was one of the lasting lessons that former Senator and Presidential Assistant for Rehabilitation and Recovery (PARR) Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson cited as he visited this city on Friday.

“One lesson I learned is this. The government cannot live by itself. It needs the cooperation of the private sector. Even local government units will face difficulty without the private sector’s help. That is the lesson I learned while working as PARR,” Lacson, who served as PARR from late 2013 to early 2015, said in Filipino at a gathering of local officials from Samar led by Gov. Sharee Ann Tan, at the Summit Hotel here.

Related: Ping Lacson, Ibinida ang Govt-Private Sector Partnership at Ibang Leksyon Mula sa Yolanda Rehab

Yolanda’s swath of destruction covered 171 cities and towns in six regions. Tacloban and Samar were among the areas devastated by the super typhoon when it hit in November 2013.

“Our national government must trust in the private sector, including NGOs and CSOs. They are very important partners in dealing with crises and other key government programs,” Lacson said in an interview with Bombo Radyo Tacloban.

“Here in Leyte, there are two unforgettable events in history: Gen. Douglas MacArthur’s fulfillment of his promise to return to Leyte to liberate the Filipinos on Oct. 20, 1944; and Super Typhoon Yolanda. These are events in history that the people of Leyte and the Philippines will never forget,” he stressed.

Despite financial and logistical limitations – including no salary or operating expenses for the first four months, Lacson fulfilled his mandate as PARR by tapping the help of the private sector, meeting with captains of industry on how to help those affected by Yolanda.

“I met the Who’s Who in the business community, and they were more than willing to help,” he recalled.

Over seven months, some 1,289 private sector-NGO projects were reported to the Office of the Presidential Assistant for Rehabilitation and Recovery, with pledges amounting to Php 11.8 billion.

He said the Eastern Visayas Regional Medical Center, Palo Park, and housing for those affected by Yolanda would not have been possible without the help of the private sector partners.

Also, Lacson and his staff put together in a record six months an 8,000-page Comprehensive Rehabilitation and Recovery Plan (CRRP) that can be used as a template in dealing with future calamities.

“Even the United Nations and the international community acknowledged that in a record time of six months, we finished the CRRP not just by ourselves but with the help of foreign and local partners in the private sector,” he said.

*****

Ping Lacson, Ibinida ang Govt-Private Sector Partnership at Ibang Leksyon Mula sa Yolanda Rehab

TACLOBAN CITY – Hindi matatawaran ang pakikipag-ugnayan ng pamahalaan at ng pribadong sektor – kabilang ang non-government at civil society organizations (NGO/CSO) – sa pagtulong sa mga Pilipino na bumangon mula sa mga kalamidad tulad ng Super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) noong 2013.

Iginiit ito ni dating Senador at Presidential Assistant for Rehabilitation and Recovery (PARR) Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson nitong Biyernes sa pagbisita niya rito.

“Ito ang lesson na natutunan ko. Di pwedeng mabuhay ang gobyerno alone. Kailangan talaga natin ang cooperation with the private sector. Maski LGU palagay ko mahihirapan kayo pag walang cooperation ang private sector, napakaimportante. So yan ang lesson na natutunan ko nang ako na-appoint na OPARR,” diin ni Lacson, na nagsilbi bilang PARR mula 2013 hanggang 2015, sa pagtitipon ng mga lokal na opisyal ng Samar sa pangunguna ni Gov. Sharee Ann Tan sa Summit Hotel dito.

Noong tumama ang bagyong Yolanda noong Nobyembre 2013, nasalanta nito ang 171 siyudad at bayan sa anim na rehiyon. Kabilang ang Samar at Tacloban sa pinakamabigat na natamaan ng super typhoon.

“Ang national government, magtiwala sa private sector. Partner nila ang private sector, NGO at CSO pag may krisis o programang gobyerno na gustong ipatupad, napakaimportante,” giit din ni Lacson sa panayam sa Bombo Radyo Tacloban.

“Dalawa ang napakalaking kaganapan dito sa history ng Leyte: Oct 20, 1944 si Gen. MacArthur, sabi niya ‘I shall return,’ bumalik siya, isa yan. Ang pangalawa Yolanda. Dalawa ang part ng kasaysayan na hindi makakalimutan ng taga-Leyte at buong Pilipinas,” dagdag niya.

Sa kabila ng mga limitasyon sa pondo at logistics, kabilang ang walang sweldo o MOOE sa unang apat na buwan, natupad ni Lacson ang mandato niya dahil nakipagugnayan siya sa pribadong sektor, at nakipagpulong sa mga “captains of industry” kung paano matulungan ang mga nasalanta ni Yolanda.

“Sino ang Who’s Who sa business community natin, nandoon. At more than willing sila,” paggunita ni Lacson.

Sa loob ng pitong buwan, mga 1,289 private sector-NGO projects ang naiulat sa Office of the Presidential Assistant for Rehabilitation and Recovery, at may pledges na umaabot sa Php 11.8 bilyon.

Ani Lacson, naitayo ang Eastern Visayas Regional Medical Center, Palo Park, at pabahay sa mga naapektuhan ni Yolanda sa tulong ng private sector partners ng pamahalaan.

Samantala, binuo ni Lacson at ng kanyang staff sa loob ng “record” na anim na buwan ang 8,000-pahinang Comprehensive Rehabilitation and Recovery Plan (CRRP) na maaaring gamiting template sa pagtugon sa kalamidad sa hinaharap.

“Mismong UN at international community in-acknowledge nila yan, in record time of six months natapos namin ang CRRP not only by ourselves but sa tulong nga ng napakaraming foreign at local na private sector,” aniya.

*****