THE Toledo City Council has passed on first reading the resolution to adopt the Provincial Board's (PB) state of calamity declaration as a countermeasure to the effects of the weather phenomenon El Niño.
Before it happened during the special session on Thursday morning, May 9, an argument erupted when Councilor Arlene Zambo blocked the passage of the resolution, which was authored by Councilor Jay Sigue, chairman of the environment committee.
Zambo wanted to know what specific programs, projects and activities the quick response fund (QRF) would be spent on before approving the resolution.
"It's like approving a blank check. We cannot deny (it will raise ) suspicion where the funds will be used," Zambo said.
Zambo is running for mayor against Councilor Marjorie Perales.
Sigue and Perales are allies of Mayor John Henry “Sonny” Osmeña of Team Alagad, while Zambo is an ally of former congressman Pablo John Garcia of One Cebu/Partido Demokratiko Pilipino–Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban).
Sigue said he had no political motive when he came up with the resolution, pointing out that their constituents needed help as the city's water supply had dwindled because of the dry spell.
“This resolution is not for campaigning. This resolution is for the people in need of water,” he said.
According to Osmeña, every councilor has the right to speculate about the purpose of the resolution.
“It’s their privilege. It’s their right to doubt; to suspect whatever they want to think. I will not worry about that. It’s up to them. If they are going to be insincere and insensitive to the needs of the people of Toledo, they should be answerable to the people,” he told Superbalita Cebu.
Osmeña is running for the third district's seat in the House of Representatives against Garcia.
Garcia, for his part, had suggested passing the resolution after the elections.
“To erase doubts, they should wait until next week,” he said in Cebuano.
During the session, presiding officer Vice Mayor Antonio Yapha Jr. eased the tension by suggesting a win-win solution: Sigue's resolution would be approved on second reading on May 20, or after the elections.
Zambo, Sigue and the six other councilors agreed.
Sigue said his resolution's aim is to purchase an additional truck that will deliver water to barangays. He said the City only has one truck to do this.
City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) chief Alexander Dennis Abella said 17 of 38 barangays have no running water.
These are Gen. Climaco, Tungkay, Pangamihan, Canlumampao, Carmen, Capt. Claudio, Subayon, Putingbato, Sagay, Sam-ang, Cambang-ug, Loay, Bagakay, Biga, Bunga, Campo 8 and Landahan.
According to the report of the City Agricultural Services that was submitted to CDRRMO, the dry spell has caused P2.9 million in damage to agricultural lands and crops, including corn and rice fields, vegetables, bananas and sweet potatoes in Campo 8, Carmen, Talavera, Awihao and Canlumampao.
The CDRRMO has a funding of P100 million with 30 percent, or P30 million, intended for QRF.
The Carmen Copper Corp. (CCC) has been helping the City provide water to affected barangays.
Sofia Picardal, the CCC senior corporate communication officer, said the company supplies 68,000 liters of water from its Malubog Dam every day.
CCC delivers 16,000 liters of water to Don Andres Soriano thrice week. It provides 10,000 liters of water to Media Once and Poog every day. In Biga, CCC supplies 32,000 liters of water. (From SCG of SuperBalita Cebu, KAL)