THE Cebu Provincial Government has already purchased an initial 2,000 water drums and water tanks for local government units (LGUs) affected by the weak El Niño.
Rhee Telen Jr. of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (PDRRMO) said their purchase request for calamity assistance has already reached P23.3 million.
Of the amount, P10 million is for food packs, P9 million is for water drums and P3 million is for the purchase of generator sets for island communities.
Another P10,000 was spent to mitigate the outbreak of crown-of-thorns seastar and P1.2 million for veterinary supplies.
The PDRRMO’s quick response fund amounts to P59 million and some P25 million will be used to respond to the needs of those affected by the dry spell.
In an interview last Wednesday, April 17, Telen said they are still waiting for the consolidated report of the 32 affected LGUs.
As of Wednesday, the mild El Niño has already damaged P45.8 million worth of crops, livestock and seaweeds in 32 LGUs in the province.
Of the 2,000 water drums purchased by Capitol, around 598 were already distributed to LGUs that have completed their assessment report.
“Our concern is to fast-track the reports of the Municipal Agriculture Office on the affected areas, affected farmers and monetary value of the damage. We will prioritize those LGUs that have complete data,” Telen said.
Telen added that the Municipality of Ginatilan has already purchased 600 sacks of rice using their local disaster quick response fund.
The town, though, needs 100 sacks more and has already submitted a request to the PDRRMO.
Aside from this, the PDRRMO also urged the women of the northern towns of San Remigio and Sta. Fe to continue with their Ferro cement technology.
Earlier, some 60 women were trained to make water catchments with Ferro cement technology for water security and resilient livelihood.
They were then tasked to train other women in their communities.
Ferro cement is a system of reinforced plaster applied over layer of metal mesh, woven expanded-metal or metal fibers and closely spaced thin steel rods such as rebars.
It is used to construct relatively thin, hard and strong surfaces and structures in many shapes such as hulls for boats, shell roofs and water tanks. (RTF)