PB to create disaster body for province

Monday, February 13, 2012

THE Cebu Provincial Board will discuss in its regular session next week the creation of a Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (PDRRMC), as the need to have one is required by law and was pointed out in their Dec. 19, 2011 out-of-town session in Medellin.

But even without a PDRRMC, the Capitol handled well the safety of constituents during the typhoons that battered the province, and provided millions of pesos in financial and relief assistance to provinces in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao that were badly hit.

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Sun.Star Cebu sought the reaction of Vice Governor Agnes Magpale, why it took legislators this long to propose the measure.

Priorities

Magpale, who assumed as vice governor last May 10, 2011, said that after she assumed as vice governor, she made this one of her priorities and they are now doing something about it.

Republic Act 10121, which strengthens the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management System, was approved on May 27, 2010 by then President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. The act laid down the frameworks in the establishment of local disaster risk reduction and management councils.

The Sangguniang Panlalawigan’s move to create the council started only toward the end of last year.

The board’s records revealed that the resolution creating PDRRMC, authored by PB Thadeo Ouano, only reached first reading last Nov. 14, 2011.

When the measure was scheduled for the second reading last Dec.19, 2011, in an out-of-town session in Medellin, some legislators immediately referred it to the secretariat for verification.

Active role

Some legislators believed that Capitol might already have one, considering the active role it plays in every typhoon.

Since it was found out that Capitol has yet to formally pass a resolution creating a disaster risk reduction and management council, the measure was scheduled for discussion today.

Today’s agenda endorses Ouano’s February letter “relative to the proposed creation of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (PDRRMC).”

Capitol, through the previous provincial disaster council, helped other provinces hit by typhoons. Last Oct. 2011, the governor gave P5 million each to Pampanga and Bulacan provinces, badly battered by typhoons, Pedring and Quiel.

The governor also gave P5 million to Gov. Imee Marcos after typhoon Mina badly hit Ilocos Norte in August last year.

After typhoon Sendong last December, the governor gave P5 million each to Cagayan de Oro and Iligan cities.

She also extended typhoon assistance at P1 million each to Dumaguete and Tanjay cities. The governor is yet to give P3 million in typhoon assistance to Negros Oriental.

Assistance

With the recent earthquake that badly hit Negros Oriental, the governor announced she will extend assistance to the province.

The breakdown will be P7 million to Negros Oriental; plus a total of P3.25 million cash assistance to other affected towns, namely, Guihulngan City, Bindoy, Tayasan, Jimalalud and La Libertad.

The governor will also turn over P2.832 million worth of relief assistance to these towns.

Law

Section 12 of RA 10121 orders the creation of a local disaster risk reduction and management office (LDRRMO) in every province, which shall be responsible in setting the direction, development, implementation and coordination of disaster risk management programs in their jurisdiction.