The world keeps eye on quake-battered Bohol even if the global community is now responding to provinces where lands have been rendered barren of lives and properties by the Yolanda “apocalypse.” The United Nations (UN) thru its World Food Programme (WFP) assured Gov. Edgar Chatto of continued assistance to the Boholanos. UN-WFP Representative and Country Director Praveen Agrawal cited in his letter to the governor the resilience of the Boholanos which is “truly admirable and a great motivator to continue and ensure that the assistance reaches those most in need.” As Chatto thanked and treasured all the sympathies and supports during the devastating quake, Bohol returned the great kindness and concern thru an integrated humanitarian “Bohol Team” to Leyte, Samar and other areas whipped hardest by supertyphoon Yolanda. In an admirably rare gesture, Agrawal, on behalf of the UN-WFP, thanked the provincial government of Bohol “for welcoming us and the Australian government during our field mission” in the aftermath of the destructive, killer quake. Agrawal said it was “an honor” in bringing aids to the affected communities.

The ambassador and minister counsellor of Australia were “impressed” at how in Bohol the assistance was ensuring that beneficiaries would be food secure in critical time, the UN-WFP official said. The UN-WFP was pleased by the “joint efforts to facilitate the relief and response activities, including the reconstruction of major roads that provide more efficient and timely delivery of relief items to the affected population.” In his separate official communication to the Bohol leader, Australian Ambassador Bill Tweddell assured that his country will keep monitoring the impacts of the quake and situation going forward. Whenever required, “the Australian government stands ready to respond, along with the humanitarian community,” Tweddell wrote Chatto. In their meeting at the Governor’s Mansion on Thursday, Chatto and Reps. Rene Relampagos, Aris Aumentado and Arthur Yap discussed, among others, shelter aids as an immediate priority for the thousands of Bohol families who lost homes to the quake.

Bohol has shifted to protracted relief goods provisions as it has entered early recovery phase, which necessarily involves transitional shelters and emergency employment for the homeless to start rebuilding their lives and recovering their livelihood. The governor said Bohol rehabilitation’s shelter cluster agencies will meet this week with the mayors, municipal planning officers and engineers, and other key stakeholders. The shelter cluster, in which a so-concerned Rep. Yap is willing to sit, also has private sector or NGO participation, particularly the Habitat for Humanity and International Organization of Migrants (IOM). The governor’s meeting with the three congressmen last Thursday also had representatives from the provincial board, mayors’ league, and sectors like health, tourism, business and power. Provincial Planning and Development Officer John Titus Vistal presented the Bohol rehabilitation plan, which includes the different agencies for fund sourcing. In his letter, the Australian ambassador hoped for courage and fortitude for the Boholanos in this difficult time. Tweddell wished Chatto “all the best in your leadership in the recovery and reconstruction” of Bohol. The Bohol government is a long-standing partner of the Australian government in the implementation of AusAID-assisted key development programs. (Ven rebo Arigo)