Treñas to ask NDCC’s help if SP turns down request
City Mayor Jerry Treñas said he will seek the help of the National Disaster and Coordinating Council (NDCC) should the Sangguniang Panlungsod junk the request declaring the city under the state of imminent danger of a calamity.
Treñas stressed the request is reasonable as the city needs to put in place mitigating measures because of the water shortage problem here escalated by the onslaught of the El Niño phenomenon.
He defended the request on doubts as to what particular barangay in the city should avail of the water wells. “We could not exactly determine the areas since there are areas which are short of water but is impossible to drill water wells.” the mayor said.
The legislative body should give a “degree of flexibility” on where these mitigating measures should be poured. Declaring a certain area under a specific calamity and declaring it under the imminent danger of a calamity is different.
In declaring an area or city under the imminent danger of a calamity, one could not exactly identify the area though the damage is felt. “There should be a degree of flexibility,” said Treñas.
The recommendation declaring the city under a state of imminent danger stemmed amidst the growing concern on the water shortage. Once approved by the council, the city government is allowed to spend five percent of its calamity fund.
