By Charissa Luci-Atienza  Albay City Rep. Joey Salceda said on Monday he is willing to chair the proposed Taal Commission that would keep an eye on the rehabilitation and reconstruction of communities affected by the Taal Volcano eruption. Albay Rep. Joey Salceda
(RTVM / FILE PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN) He cited the need to create a government commission that would assist and handle the rehabilitation of the affected communities in the Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon) region. "Yes, I have chaired one which is the BCARE (Bicol Calamity Assistance for Rehabilitation Effort), and I managed," he told reporters in an interview when asked if he is willing to head or serve as adviser of the proposed commission. He declared his intention to lead the proposed commission after Malacañang said it is open to creating such body that will manage all programs in connection with recovery and rehabilitation programs related to the Jan. 12 phreatic eruption. He said such a commission is needed to oversee the recovery, rehabilitation, reconstruction, and adaptation efforts in the heavily-affected areas, particularly in Batangas. "This is also a chance for us, given the fact that the Batangas is right there, nasa gilid lang ng 64 percent ng GDP (gross domestic product) ng country (beside 64 percent of country’s GDP). It can be virtually be developed and repositioned as a new center for growth," Salceda said. "Let us leapfrog, let us build back better forward." Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo earlier said the Palace will study the proposal made by Senate President Pro-Tempore Ralph Recto on a Taal Commission. Salceda said the government may have to spend some P100 billion to rehabilitate the affected areas, if there will be a hazardous explosive eruption. He asked the affected provinces, the Office of the Civil Defense (OCD), and local government units (LGUs) to sit down and discuss the much-needed resources and come up with a budget plan. "Definitely, a Taal eruption, recovery, rehabilitation, and adaptation plan is necessary." In his Jan. 15 aide memoire to House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano, Salceda said Congress must be ready to accommodate a request for supplementary appropriations if and when requested by the executive branch. He sought the formulation and legislation of a Taal Eruption Recovery, Rehabiliation, and Adaptation Plan or the TERRA Plan. "The plan shall be based on the principle of building back better forward, which should go beyond restoring the area to its former state or condition but instead use this opportunity to leapfrog area development, given its proximity to Metro Manila, the seat of economic power," he said. He pushed for the creation of a reconstruction commission that will implement the TERRA Plan, which could cost possibly P60 to P100 billion.