Less than a month after Typhoon Haiyan ravaged the Philippines, Philippine President Benigno Aquino appointed Panfilo “Ping” Lacson as rehabilitation czar to spearhead the long and winding road and journey to recovery and rehabilitation.
On the first anniversary of the storm that left over 6,200 dead, the former senator and national police chief granted Devex an exclusive interview to discuss the toughest challenges he’s faced, what’s the situation on the ground now, lessons learned and development opportunities for all stakeholders, including the international aid community and the private sector.
“Being given the big responsibility of rehabilitating 171 cities and municipalities with very limited power and authority is a sure formula for failure,” noted the presidential assistant for rehabilitation and recovery, who explained his office must find innovative ways to get things done when faced with the nightmare of navigating Philippine government bureaucracy — despite having a clear mandate to coordinate all rehabilitation-related operations.
About the author
Lean Alfred Santos@DevexLeanAS
Lean Alfred Santos is a former Devex development reporter focusing on the development community in Asia-Pacific, including major players such as the Asian Development Bank and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank. He previously covered Philippine and international business and economic news, sports and politics.
