Case closed for CSWD's bloated calamity report

By Maricar M. Calubiran

The report rendered by the Committee on Social Services and Disaster Relief of the Sangguniang Panglungsod did not grill the people responsible for the bloated calamity report in relation to the September 16 flooding in the districts of Lapaz and Jaro.

Committee chair Councilor Merci Drilon-Garcia merely stated that the request of City Social Welfare and Development (CSWD) Officer Clarita Dignadice to declare certain areas in Jaro and Lapaz districts under the state of calamity did not meet the requirements  provided by law.

The committee conducted an investigation after the members of the City Council questioned the figures rendered by the CSWD on the number of affected families and persons in relation to the September 16, 2005 floods that affected 13 barangays in Jaro and two barangays in Lapaz. The CSWD used the figures as basis for asking the council to declare the 15 barangays under the state of calamity.

In the CSWD report, there were 3,646 families or 18,230 persons affected by the September 16 flood. Of the 15 barangays, nine received assistance from the social services department. Of the nine, three returned the assistance after the controversy came out in the media.

Surprisingly, the committee did not touch on the issue of who were responsible for coming up with such bloated figures.

During the committee hearing last September 30, 2005, Dignadice disclosed that their office merely based their report on the figures submitted by the 15 barangay captains concerned.

It was learned that the barangay captains came up with the number of affected families. In return, the CSWD multiplied the number of affected families by 5 to come up with the number of affected persons.

Drilon's committee report cited that calamity shall be defined as a state of extreme distress or misfortune, produced by adverse circumstance or event or any great misfortune or cause of loss or misery caused by natural forces. Councilor Jed Mabilog also signed  the committee report. The committee report was deliberated and approved in last Wednesday’s regular session.

The committee also recommended that the assistance already extended to those who actually suffered be considered as “relief assistance.”

Under Republic Act 7160, five percent of the estimated revenue from the regular sources shall be set aside as a lump sum appropriation for relief, rehabilitation, reconstruction and other works or services in connection with the calamities which may occur during the budget year provided. However, such fund shall be used only in the area or portion thereof of the local government unit or other areas affected by disaster or calamity as determined and declared by local sanggunian concerned.