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Tuesday, May 02, 2006
Councilor proposes disaster declaration
If a local legislator’s proposal is approved, Cebu City will be placed under a state of disaster preparedness for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Summit in December.
This is apart from the four-day holiday that will be imposed in Cebu City and two other cities hosting the summit.
Councilor Gerardo Carillo wants Cebu City placed under a state of disaster preparedness for the Asean summit to help prevent the loss of life and property during the event.
This way, City Hall can also use the local calamity funds for “pre- and post-disaster activities of the City of Cebu in preparation for the upcoming summit.”
For this year, the Cebu City Government has P72.32 million as five-percent calamity funds in its annual budget.
Fund sources
As for the Parks and Playgrounds Commission, the office tasked to undertake the beautification projects, it has an existing budget of P4.88 million for its operations alone.
The local finance committee still has to identify other sources of funds for the summit preparation.
In his proposed resolution, Carillo said it is a state policy, as provided in Presidential Decree 1566 for the self-reliance among Local Government Units (LGUs) and other agencies involved, “to prepare for, respond to and recover from any disaster incident and taking necessary actions to ensure public safety and well being of its residents, visitors, business community, and property prior to, during and after any disasters.”
“It is essential for the City of Cebu to prepare and carry out disaster preparedness and contingency measures as well as appropriation of funds, in preparation for the Asean Summit,” the resolution read.
Carillo’s draft resolution is supported by a resolution of the Cebu City Disaster Coordinating Council (CCDC). The resolution was passed upon the motion of Acting Department and Social Welfare and Services chief Cathy Yso last April 27.
Preparations
According to the CCDC resolution, declaring Cebu City under a state of disaster preparedness will prepare the City for and reduce the risks of disasters or emergencies during the event.
City Hall needs about P35 million for the beautification and other infrastructure projects, as it does not want to charge anything to the National Government.
But Mayor Tomas Osmeña is confident the City can afford to pay for its share of the preparations.
Cebu City and the two other cities hosting the summit will get a four-day holiday in December.
His concern for the security of foreign delegates prodded Mayor Osmeña to push for the declaration of non-working holidays to encourage people to go out-of-town and allow Metro Cebu’s authorities to focus on securing the summit’s delegates and venue.
Several leaders of the business community, however, have warned the holiday would be counter-productive. (GAC)
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (May 2, 2006 issue)
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