Cebu Capitol Maps Out El Niño Assistance Plan

The provincial government of Cebu on Tuesday started to map out its implementation plan in assisting towns and cities affected by the dry spell because of a weak El Niño.

Provincial information officer Ainjeliz dela Torre-Orong said the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) and other offices in the provincial capitol are now laying out their action plan.

Last Monday (March 25), the Provincial Board (PB) approved the resolution placing the entire province of Cebu under state of calamity.

Dela Torre-Orong said in a statement sent to the Philippine News Agency (PNA) that the PDRRMO headed by Baltazar Tribunalo will meet the members of the Cebu Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council to discuss the implementation plan.

Provincial Board Member Jovito Jonkie Ouano, chairman of PB’s committee on environment, cited the necessity of the implementation plan in providing assistance to the affected sectors to minimize the adverse effects of El Niño.

“We need to assess the extent of damage in the farmlands in the province, particularly those who are in the hinterlands,” Ouano said.

Totch dela Cruz, PDRRMO assistant head, said the meeting with capitol offices attached to the disaster management council is scheduled on March 28.

The PDRMM council, headed by Governor Hilario Davide III, placed Cebu province under a “state of preparedness” last February 28, after some farmers and fishermen in several towns initially reported crop damages and fish kills.

Vice Governor Agnes Magpale said some rivers in different parts of the province have dried up, consequently affecting the daily water supply.

All the departments in the capitol, the statement said, were already “ordered to closely look into the situation and immediately respond to the affected sectors.”

Last March 18, the PDRRMO, together with the Provincial Agriculture Office, Provincial Veterinary Office, Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office, Provincial Environment and Natural Resources, Provincial Engineering Office, and local government unit (LGU) representatives, conducted an assessment in 51 local government units on the initial negative impacts or damages of the prevailing dry spell and the potential impacts on agricultural products including crops, livestock and fishery, as well as water resources.

These sectors are considered vulnerable to damages and losses during disasters, the statement read.

Out of the 51 LGUs under the provincial government, 27 have declared to have suffered damages and losses reaching PHP100 million, said Tribunalo. Of the estimated amount, PHP25 million is on agricultural damage, specifically corn produce, it said.

According to the statement, the cities that have reported damages are Mandaue, Danao, Carcar and Toledo, while the towns are Asturias, Alcantara, Aloguinsan, Alcoy, Argao, Balamban, Dumanjug, Sogod, Dalaguete, San Remegio, Sibonga, Tuburan, Tabuelan, Daanbantayan, Medellin, Bantayan, Carmen, Madridejos, Santa Fe, Consolacion, Compostela, Boljoon and Minglanilla.

With the declaration of the state of calamity, the provincial government, through the PDRRMO, can tap the available PHP59 million from its calamity fund, Tribunalo said.

Around PHP20 million to PHP25 million can be used to purchase materials and equipment, and to fund support programs that can help affected farmers and fishermen such as the “Cash for Work” program. (PNA)