EVEN though the Provincial Board (PB) has already placed the province under a state of calamity due the weather phenomenon El NIño, each municipal and component city council must make it official by either declaring a state of calamity or passing a resolution adopting the PB’s declaration.

Otherwise, local government units (LGUs) can’t use their quick response fund (QRF), said Rhee Telen Jr. of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO).

He said the PB’s declaration of a state of calamity is for the utilization of the Capitol’s fund, which will be distributed to the LGUs.

Telen assured that the Capitol will assist LGUs that have yet to pass a resolution.

He said their priority is to help low-income municipalities—fourth and fifth classes—that have smaller QRFs compared to richer and bigger component cities or municipalities.

PDRRMO reported that the dry spell has resulted in P110.9 million worth of damage to agriculture, fishery and other forms of livelihood in 39 LGUs in the province.

The towns of Poro and San Francisco, both in Camotes Island, recently reported damage amounting to P317,500 and P2.75 million, respectively.

Of the 39 LGUs, only 13 have either declared a state of calamity or adopted the PB’s declaration. These are the cities of Carcar and Talisay and the towns of Alcoy, Asturias, Carmen, Compostela, Dumanjug, Ginatilan, Minglanilla, Samboan, Santander, Sogod and Tudela.

However, Alcoy, Minglanilla, Samboan and Barili have yet to submit their reports, according to Telen. (FROM SCG OF SUPERBALITA CEBU / KAL)