Yolanda rehab body gets Dino as co-chairman

President Rodrigo Duterte has appointed Presidential Assistant for the Visayas Michael Lloyd Dino as co-chairman of a newly-created inter-agency body that will monitor the government's rehabilitation and recovery initiatives in areas affected by super typ

Inter-Agency Task Force for the Unified Implementation and monitoring of rehabilitation and recovery projects and programs in the Yolanda Corridor (IATF-Yolanda) is headed by Cabinet Secretary Leoncio Evasco Jr.

Aside from Dino, the other co-chairman is Presidential Assistant for Special Concerns Norberto Gonzales, while members are the secretaries of the various national agencies.

The creation of the task force was signed by Duterte last August 8.

The IATF-Yolanda shall serve as the overall and central coordination committee of all executive departments, agencies, bureaus, government-owned and controlled corporations and other instrumentalities in relation to the various report of implementation and monitoring of the initiatives.

It is also tasked to consult affected communities and nongovernment organizations in the crafting, implementation, and evaluation of the various programs and projects covered by the order.

The task force is mandated to submit reports to the president every month or as often as may be required by the latter.

Super typhoon Yolanda (international name Haiyan) was one of the strongest typhoons that hit the country in 2013 and resulted in thousands of deaths and billions worth of properties damaged in several areas in the Visayas.

Duterte, in his Administrative Order No. 5 signed on July 31, 2017, said that due to the lack of coordination between and among government agencies, there have been delays in the implementation of the programs in Yolandastricken areas.

"There is a need to establish a coordinating body, in order to ensure the efficient and effective coordination between various government agencies and instrumentalities involved inYolanda recovery and rehabilitation programs and projects," read the AO.

Officials of concerned agencies who failed to comply with the order will face administrative penalties, it added.