Ten (10) local government units (LGUs) declare a state of calamity in Cebu province following the effects of the El Niño weather phenomenon. | Photo from Cebu.gov.ph
CEBU CITY, Philippines — The El Niño weather phenomenon reared its ugly head on Cebu’s provincial towns as 10 local government units declared a state of calamity in their respective cities and towns.
Rhee Telen Jr., information section staff of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (PDRRMO), said the LGUs consist of the cities of Carcar, Toledo and Talisay; and the municipalities of Ginatilan, Minglanilla, Samboan, Sogod, Tudela, Dumanjug and Alcoy.
Seven other LGUs namely Santa Fe, Asturias, Pilar, Compostela, San Fernando, Bogo City and Borbon, are still waiting for a regular session in order to officially declare a state of calamity.
In line with this, the PDRRMO has lined up several water projects amounting to P20 million, including several water systems to help the LGUs to address their problems on water shortage. These projects include a portable water treatment plant for Bantayan Island worth P8.9 million.
In earlier interviews, PDRRMO head Baltazar Tribunalo said that residents in the island have complained about saltwater intrusion in the water system of the the island.
The budget for the water projects are taken from the PDDRMO’s Disaster Preparedness Fund amounting to almost P60 million pesos.
Telen also revealed that they will also be giving relief packs to the victims of the El Niño especially farmers and fishermen who were widely affected by the dry spell.
“Medyo daghan-daghan na ang ongoing nga pagdistribute og makatabang pud sa mga farmers,” said Telen.
(We are making progress in the distribution of the relief packs, which is aimed at helping our farmers.) / celr