PB eyes extension of state of calamity declaration

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu provincial government is contemplating on extending the period of the declaration of province-wide state of calamity as the prevailing El Niño is projected to continue and intensify by the end of the year.

The declaration made by the Cebu Provincial Board in May this year remains in effect until November.

Baltazar Tribunalo Jr., chief of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO), said that there may be a need to seek extension of the period after the termination of the first declaration in preparation for the possible worse effect of the phenomenon.

“It was a very wise decision nga mi-declare ta pag-May. The province was wise enough to declare such, naka-anticipate man ta. It’s a very big form of preparation… But karon, base sa forecast sa PAGASA (Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration) sa pagkusog sa El Niño,  mas kuyaw ni sa atong tan-aw karon. This is now becoming a national concern,” he told reporters.

He said the matter would still be discussed in a meeting of the PDRRM Council this month. He added that PAGASA would be invited in the meeting to provide data as scientific basis.

In May this year, the disaster office already noted the waning water supply in some areas in the province in the second quarter of the year when in fact the El Niño was still weak. This prompted the PB to place the entire province under a state of calamity in order to extend assistance to the local government units.

The declaration of a state of calamity allows an LGU to draw from its calamity funds and utilize them for emergency purchases and responses.

The province set aside P121 million in disaster fund this year. At least 70 percent or P85 million funds the activities and programs for disaster prevention, mitigation, preparedness, while the remaining 30 percent or P36 million was earmarked as quick response fund.

Tribunalo said they apportioned P40 million from its disaster fund for El Niño emergency related responses.  But the Provincial Budget Officer earlier reported that the province has already around P4 million left in its coffers that can be utilized for El Niño.

Tribunalo, however, believes that the funds will be enough until the end of the year.

He said funding is not an issue because the province’s funds only serve as augmentation to that of the local government units.

“Di na problema kay sa panahon nga duna gyu’y dako nga panginahanglan, naa man pud ang National Government. At the same time, naa man pud tay maggamit pa nga fund,” he said.

The province may also pass a supplemental budget should there be a need, said Cebu Governor Hilario Davide III, in a separate interview. — Michael Vencynth H. Braga/ATO (FREEMAN)