Declare Talisay City under calamity state

Disaster officials in Talisay City are calling on the City Council to declare a "state of calamity" in order to cushion the impact of drought on the city's agriculture sector and the public.

Christopher Andrew Estrabon, action officer of the city's disaster coordinating council, said Barangays Camp IV, Jaclupan, Manipis, Tapul and Maghaway must be declared under a state of calamity because of the dry spell hitting these areas.

Based on the reports from the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, more than 2,000 households in these barangays are now affected by the dry spell.

"Sitios in the said barangays are experiencing drying up of their water supplies and others have minimal water pressure which is now affecting their daily living," the resolution from the disaster office said.

Vince Monterde, who is also a member of the city disaster, said the declaration of the state of calamity is necessary so they will be given funds to purchase equipment to be used in rationing water to the mountain barangays.

The declaration of the state of calamity will allow the city to use its calamity funds to address the needs of these barangays.

Monterde also said that with the declaration, the city mayor could make emergency purchases to address problems caused by the dry spell even without seeking the approval of the legislative department.

Acting vice mayor and presiding officer Danilo Caballero referred the recommendation of the disaster office to the Committees on Agriculture and Budget and Finance to render a committee report the following session.

The Metropolitan Cebu Water District, which distributes potable water to most of the households in Metro Cebu, reported earlier that their Jaclupan site in Talisay City was already showing signs of drying up.

From a normal daily production of 40,000 cubic meters of water, the Jaclupan facility is now only able to produce 19,000 cubic meters of water a day.

Under the law, the local DRRM Fund "shall be sourced from not less than 5 percent of the estimated revenue from regular sources."

About 30 percent of the fund, called the Quick Response Fund, is mandated for response activities during actual disaster operations. These include the provision of food and temporary shelter to disaster victims and transfer of funds to other LGUs that are under a state of calamity.

The City Council has approved a P539-million budget for this year. From that amount, 5 percent will be taken to form part of the disaster fund.