Budget Secretary Florencio B. Abad has announced the release of P124.77 million for the rehabilitation of infrastructures destroyed during the Zamboanga siege launched by a faction of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF).
He said the funds released was part of the P3.9-billion required funds for the relief and rehabilitation of affected communities under the Zamboanga City Roadmap to Recovery and Reconstruction (Z3R) plan that includes the building of a Fleet Marine detachment.
The rehabilitation plan was based on the estimates of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). It aims to address the long-term aspects of recovery for Zamboanga City, from the reconstruction of damaged infrastructure to the resettlement of internally displaced people.
Abad said the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) released the P124.77 million to the Philippine Navy on October 15 for the construction of a Fleet-Marine detachment in Rio Hondo village makes for 11 out of a total of 13 projects under the Z3R plan with allotment releases.
He said the amount will “cover building of the detachment in Rio Hondo, the site of the September 2013 siege that shut down Zamboanga City for almost three weeks. “
He added that the fund was charged against the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Fund pursuant to the approval of the Office of the President.