The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) on Thursday revealed that it would need an initial P4 billion for rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts in areas heavily hit by the recent earthquakes in Mindanao.

“Tentative amount identified is P4 billion. But that already includes some of the rehabilitation and reconstruction projects along with the initially identified reconstruction projects,” NDRRMC executive director and Undersecretary Ricardo Jalad said in a press conference in Camp Aguinaldo.

“We presented a recommendation to the President last night during the Cabinet meeting and the main recommendations there were the rotations of those communities and the sustainment of relief operations and fund requirements,” he added.

The official noted that the exact amount needed for the rehabilitation and reconstruction in quake-hit areas would be determined upon the completion of the agency’s post-disaster assessment.

As for asking for aide from foreign governments, Jalad said the NDRRMC would “vet that with the DFA” while giving assurance that the NDRRMC “is still capable of handling the situation.”

“We are doing everything we can to improve the situation in the evacuation centers,” said Jalad, adding that the project proposals of the housing projects for displaced residents are already being coordinated by the NDRRMC with the National Housing Authority (NHA).

NDRRMC’s latest data showed that the number of deaths from the major tremblors has reached 28 while more than 400 sustained minor and major injuries.

The earthquakes affected a total of 46,250 families or 231,250 individuals from 251 barangays in Regions 11 and 12.

Meanwhile, the NDRRMC has ceased its search and rescue efforts, especially in landslide prone areas, despite the fact that there are still two people reported missing as the agency does not want to endanger the lives of rescuers.

Operatives of local government units (LGUs), however, may opt to continue with retrieval operations.

“We are no longer in the search and rescue. We are just sustaining the relief operations and managing the situation in the evacuation centers,” Jalad said.