Monday, August 27, 2007 DILG tells LGUs to revive councils that will respond to calamities
LOCAL Governments Secretary Ronaldo Puno asked all mayors and governors to alert or reactivate their local disaster coordinating councils (LDCCs), so they can work better with the National Government in preventing disasters and dealing with calamities.
Puno issued the directive as head of the disaster relief and response efforts of the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) in rural areas.
President Arroyo has tasked the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) chief to “lead the watch” in efforts to prevent disasters and respond to calamities, while the NDCC chief, Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro, is focusing on the military offensive in Basilan and Sulu.
Puno has designated Undersecretary for Peace and Order Melchor Rosales, a former executive director of the NDCC, as head of the DILG task force that will “closely monitor and regularly publicize” efforts in providing aid to rural folk hit by the dry spell or typhoons.
In a memorandum, Puno said the reactivation of LDCCs was particularly important in areas hit by the dry spell such as Ilocos, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Southern Tagalog, Mindoro Occidental, Mindoro Oriental, Marinduque, Romblon, Palawan, Bicol the Cordillera region.
To prepare for a possible drought lasting until December and future dry spells, Puno said that local governments should craft their contingency plans on the effects of climate change.
He advised local officials to install billboards indicating the water level conditions in their localities and the measures needed to minimize the negative effects of a dry spell.
Citing a worst-case scenario drawn up by the weather bureau of a dry spell lasting until the end of the year, Puno said the country, particularly Luzon, should prepare for the possible harm on agriculture, water and power supply.
Under that scenario, Puno said, the drought would likely decrease water levels in dams; affect power supply and agricultural production; spawn health-related concerns; cause toxic algae bloom; generate warmer than normal air temperatures; and trigger fires.
He also reminded local governments that the city and municipal councils may declare a state of calamity and authorize the use of local calamity funds, subject to the rules.
The declaration of a state of calamity by local councils is authorized under a 2003 Joint Memorandum Circular of the DILG and the Department of Budget and Management. It states that the calamity fund “may also be utilized for undertaking disaster preparedness activities and measures, provided that the council concerned shall declare imminent danger of calamity.”
On top of reactivating LDCCs, Puno said that local governments should also be prepared to identify high-risk areas and vulnerable groups during calamities; launch information campaigns on water conservation and sanitation; and intensify the production of cash crops, vegetables and other alternative crops.
He advised officials to prioritize the repair of water systems and set up impounding facilities; start food-for-work programs in severely affected areas; teach volunteers to help in disaster prevention and response; and if needed, issue policies to reduce and regulate water consumption in households. (Sunnex)
