THE City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CDRRMC) submitted on June 1 to the City Council the Damage Assessment and Needs Analysis (DANA) that contains the long dry spell damage report.
The completed assessment is a requirement that the City Council demanded from the affected barangays for it to determine if a calamity declaration warrants.
Eighteen barangays in Cagayan de Oro City have been affected by the drought, which wreaked havoc on crops and other agri-related produce that amounted to P75.5 million adding barangays Bugo, Tablon and Taglimao on the list.
It has been a challenge of the Moreno administration to be able to provide the assistance to the affected barangays since the calamity fund could not be released without the approval of the City Council.
"Now, Pagasa has announced the start of rainy season, still there is no response from the council yet. Supposedly, our farmers have to start planting since it has finally rained, but where will they get the materials?" Teddy Sabuga-a, vice chair on Disaster Response, said in a press conference Wednesday.
Sabuga-a said the calamity fund is available. However, it cannot be released since the calamity declaration is crucial.
As the matter seems not to move at the council, Sabuga-a is contemplating to sue the majority members of the council.
"I will be suing the majority level of the council for the inaction of the declaration of state of calamity, and its double standards," he added.
Sabuga-a did not elaborate on the details on filing charges, but assured that it will be filed next week.
"Every now and then, the barangay leaders are checking on the status of the calamity declaration. But I don't know what to answer them since there is no progress yet," Sabuga-a said.
The government-run weather bureau, Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa), said Tuesday that the onset of rainy season will bring moderate to heavy rains, winds and thunderstorms in the region.
CDRRM officer Allan Porcadilla said they are doing all means to prevent worst scenarios that can possibly occur during the rainy season.
"We are always ready. We provided flood condition maps that will help barangay officers analyze the hazards brought about by floods. We task them (barangay officials) to be first responders in calamities," said Porcadilla.
He added the City Government cannot stand alone during rescue operations, citing typhoon Sendong which cost lives and damaged properties, adding "so we really have to start the awareness in the barangay level."
Aside from the awareness seminars, rescue equipments such as syringes and information education materials were also handed by the city government to barangay leaders.
Vergil Lago, weather specialist of CDRRMO, assures its office generates frequent advisories to keep the public posted on weather updates.
"We have our Facebook page, information board located at our office, and we also reach out to radio stations to let people know on the weather updates," Lago said.