By Vanne Elaine Terrazola Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri on Saturday called for a "Marshall Plan-like" recovery program for the rehabilitation of the areas of Batangas province affected by the Jan. 12 eruption of Taal Volcano. Sen. Juan Miguel "Migz" Zubiri
(Senate of the Philippines / MANILA BULLETIN) The Marshall Plan was a four-year program enacted by the United States in 1948 to aid Europe following the devastation of World War II. It was named after former U.S. Secretary of State George Marshall, who designed the program. "I have been to Batangas several times since Taal volcano erupted. Quakes before and after and the eruptions damaged farms, fishpens, homes, and vital road, power, and communication infrastructure," Zubiri said in a statement. "It is important that families are able to recover and rebuild lives with the least cost shouldered by them. They practically start from zero resources with the declaration of no-build zones." In his proposal, Zubiri said the executive branch would direct local government units (LGUs) to review their respective comprehensive land use plans. He said the national government and LGUs should consider, for instance, allocating resources to the National Mapping and Resource Information Authority (NAMRIA), in coordination with the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs), for the conduct of surveys and hazard mapping within 180 days. He also proposed the distribution of government-owned lands in Batangas for agricultural, industrial, and residential use by constituents displaced by the volcanic activities at subsidized cost. With this, he said the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Land Registration Authority, the Department of Justice, and other concerned agencies should issue appropriate titles and instruments to beneficiaries of his proposed land distribution programs, at no cost as to survey and titling of land parcels. The Department of Social Welfare, National Anti-Poverty Commission, and the Department of Agriculture, meanwhile, would identify the beneficiaries of the land distribution program. Zubiri also proposed to mandate the Department of Finance and Bureau of Internal Revenue to craft appropriate regulations providing tax exemptions, fee privileges, and fiscal incentives to displaced families. He also suggested the creation of new townships in coordination with the Department of Health and the Department of Education, "to ensure health and educational infrastructure are built for the use of resettled families."