Sarangani using proactive stance against calamities
ALABEL, Sarangani – Provincial Administrator Atty. Ryan Jay Ramos convened on February 1 a core group meeting for the damage needs assessment analysis of the flash flood that hit Maitum and Kiamba towns on January 30.
Initially, the provincial Provincial Agriculture Office, government already disand Provincial Environment patched 300 boxes of food and Natural Resources Office. supplies and medicines, while Atty. Ramos said the core a heavy equipment has been group “will be institutionalized deployed for the clearing para kung may ibang operation and rerouting of problem na related to calamities waterway in Barangay Zion, sa ibang municipyo, at Maitum. least may team na kaagad.”
Prolonged heavy rainfall Atty. Ramos also anticipated caused rivers and creeks to the services of the fleets overflow their banks, leaving of heavy equipment that the massive destruction in vulnerprovincial government would able areas. procure soon through a loan
In the report presented with the LandBank of the by Provincial Disaster Risk Philippines. Reduction and Management “We believe na hindi Officer (PDRRMO) Rene lang ito for the maintenance Punzalan, a total of 355 families of the road, road opening, but were displaced in five even magiging support for the barangays in Maitum and 158 clearing operations and evacuation families in eight barangays in in times of calamities,” Kiamba. he said.
Barangay Kablacan in Relative also to the provincial Maasim also suffered from government’s disaster the flash flood resulting to six response, Atty. Ramos said children trapped, rescued, and the PDRRMO is preparing returned home safely. for the implementation of the
In Maitum, one death was Sarangani Integrated Disaster reported. Emergency Quick Response
The core group, according Team (SIDEQTR). “Gusto to Atty. Ramos, was convened kasi ni Gov. na kapag may to facilitate “immediate calamities, hindi lang reactive response sa mga disasters, ang probinsya, but proactive.” calamities sa province. But, Punzalan said, the establishment anyway, the province is always of the SIDEQRT is ready naman.” “in response to the thrust and
The group is composed direction under Governor of the Provincial Governor’s Ruel Pacquiao in building Office, Provincial AdminisSarangani na maging resilient, trator’s Office, PDRRMO, dynamic, and progressive.” Provincial Social Welfare The SIDEQRT, which is and Development Office, Proexpected to be launched in vincial Engineering Office, March, will be established in three areas particularly in Malungon, MAKIMA (Maitum-Kiamba-Maasim), and GMAM (Glan-MalungonAlabel-Malapatan) areas.
Disaster response by then, according to Punzalan, will be “integrated in approach” in partnership with trained volunteers, Bureau of Fire Protection, Philippine National Police, and health workers.
Punzalan said, the SIDEQRT, which is already incorporated in the Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Investment Plan for 2023, will be operational 24/7 with logistics and administrative support from the provincial government. PR