SP ok’s P4-M aid to flooded towns

THE Sangguniang Panlungsod yesterday approved the request of Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio to shell out P4,250,000 financial assistance to towns that were greatly affected by Habagat and Typhoon Inday.

In a special session, lawmakers approved the ordinance authorizing the city mayor to utilize a portion of the 30 percent Quick Response Fund (QRF) out of the five percent Disaster Risk Reduction and Management

Fund (Calamity Fund) of the city government of Davao this year.

Duterte-Carpio certified the ordinance as urgent in a bid to assist thousands of affected residents hit by the widespread flood brought by the typhoon.

To date, there is an appropriation balance of P109,732,740.90 in the city’s calamity fund for 2018.

Based on the approved resolution, the beneficiaries are Dagupan City, Pangasinan (P500,000); Lingayen, Pangasinan (P500,000); Sta. Barbara, Pangasinan (P500,000); Calasiao, Pangasinan (P500,000); Paombong, Bulacan (P500,000); Masantol, Pampanga (P250,000); La Paz, Tarlac (P500,000); Ramos, Tarlac (P500,000); and Marilao, Bulacan (P500,000).

There were 180 barangays and 91,588 families affected by the recent disaster.

Pursuant to the provision of Section 324 (d) of Republic Act No. 7160, otherwise known as the Local Government Code of 1991, as amended by Republic Act No. 8185, it states that “five percent of the estimated revenue from regular sources shall be set aside as annual lump sum appropriations for relief, rehabilitation, reconstruction, reconstruction and other works or services in connection with calamities which may occur during the budget year".

It added that such fund shall be used only in the area, or a portion thereof, of the local government unit or other areas affected by a disaster or calamity, as determined and declared by the local Sanggunian concerned.

Davao City Councilor Danilo Dayanghirang, the proponent of the ordinance, said that although there are still other areas that were affected by the calamity, however, only these towns, which are under the state of calamity, have passed a resolution to the city government requesting for help.