In light of the Provincial Board's declaration of a state of calamity in Cebu, the Capitol has pledged a total of P153 million in assistance for all LGUs of the province.
Each town and city under its jurisdiction will get P3 million in calamity assistance.
Gov. Gwen Garcia made this announcement during a meeting with LGU mayors at the Capitol Social Hall on May 23 to discuss various issues that concern Capitol programs and initiatives.
Under RA 10121 or the “Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010”, a state of calamity is a “a condition involving mass casualty and/or major damages to property, disruption of means of livelihoods, roads and normal way of life of people in the affected areas as a result of the occurrence of natural or human-induced hazard.”
Department of Agriculture Central Visayas (DA 7) regional executive director Angel Enriquez, in the same meeting, reported that according to the data gathered by the agency from at least 40 Cebu LGUs, the prolonged drought caused by El Niño has already affected the livelihood of at least 13,589 farmers in the province.
This translates to damage pegged at a conservative estimate of P194 million for high value crops, corn, and rice planted in 6,831 hectares.
Under RA 7160 of the Local Government Code of 1991, the declaration of a state of calamity shall enable the release of calamity funds to be spent for unforeseen expenditures due to the adverse effects of the calamity.
A supplemental budget may also be enacted by way of budgetary realignment to set aside appropriations for the purchase of supplies and materials or the payment of services which are exceptionally urgent or absolutely indispensable to prevent imminent danger to, or loss of, life or property, in the jurisdiction of the LGU or in other areas declared by the President in a state of calamity.
The governor, listening to the reports both by the DA 7 and the Provincial Agriculture Office, believed that even if El Niño is coming to a fortunate end, but there are things that needs to be addressed by the LGUs to help their constituents in this time of crisis.
“Bisan pag mouwan, the damage has been done already,” Gov. Garcia said in the meeting.
The governor requested the mayors that should they distribute assistance, it would be much better to give food packs and other basic needs than giving away cash.
The meeting, which lasted for a full three hours, also rewarded the mayors who attended and stayed until the end as Gov. Garia also allocated another P3 million for their infrastructure projects.
The Board Members who also joined the governor will likewise receive an additional P3 million for their legislative assistance fund. | SN