At least six local government units in Cebu province declared a state of calamity following the effects of the El Niño weather phenomenon. | photo from Cebu.gov.ph
CEBU CITY, Philippines — More local government units (LGUs) in Cebu province have declared a state of calamity in their localities due to the prevailing effect of the El Niño weather phenomenon.
As of 3 p.m. of April 3, the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) recorded at least six LGUs that declared a state of calamity.
These include the City of Carcar and the Municipality of Minglanilla which were first to declare on March 26; Sogod town which declared a state of calamity on March 28; Ginatilan which made the declaration on April 1; and Samboan town on April 3.
Meanwhile, Toledo City’s DRRM Council passed a resolution on April 3 adopting the province-wide state of calamity declared by the Provincial Board (PB).
Rhee Telen Jr. of the PDRRMO said they are currently consolidating the status reports of the effect of the dry spell from the local DRRM officers in every town.
Telen said they aim to complete the second round of validation of the affected areas today (April 3) in order to come up with the list of places that will become the beneficiaries of the emergency response efforts of the PDRRMO.
These efforts include the distribution of water storage equipment, cash for work and food for work program.
With the PB’s passing of the resolution placing the province under a state of calamity, the PDRRMO will be spending up to P25 million of the P59 million quick response fund (QRF) for emergency responses.
Telen said they are looking to tap the focal personnel of Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) in different municipalities to ensure that the distribution of relief items for the drought-hit areas will not be tainted with politicking.
The PDRRMO, Telen said, are also waiting for the proposed purchase requests of the Provincial Agriculture Office, Provincial Veterinary Office and the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO) in order to proceed with the procurement of the relief items.