Treñas asks SP to declare city under state of calamity
The Sangguniang Panlungsod will hold a special session today to declare Iloilo City under the state of calamity after 41 barangays became flooded due to the monsoon rains brought by Typhoon Jolina. As of 1 p.m. yesterday, there were 5,517 families affected by flood. Classes in all levels in schools located in Jaro and La Paz districts were suspended.
The special session set today at 9 a.m. was requested by Mayor Jerry Treñas. His request was in accordance with the memorandum order 04-1998 of the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) on the amended policies, procedures and criteria for the declaration of the state of calamity.
Treñas wrote a letter to Vice Mayor Jed Mabilog and the entire city council requesting the legislative body to hold a special session relative to his plan to declare the city under the state of calamity.
As contained in the memorandum, the local chief executive shall recommend to the Sanggunian the declaration of the state of calamity in the disaster area together with appropriate measures. The move to declare the area under the state of calamity must be based on the damaged assessment and evaluation of the disaster coordinating council.
The same memorandum clearly states that whenever a disaster or calamity occurs, the local disaster coordinating council shall conduct a survey of the affected area within 24 hours upon the impact to determine the extent of casualties and damages brought about by the calamity.
In the report provided by the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO), there are 5,517 affected families, 10 houses are totally damaged and 12 houses are partially damaged. Of the 41 affected barangays, Jaro district has the most number of affected barangays which is 24.
La Paz district has three affected barangays, Arevalo 3, Mandurriao 3, Molo 1 and City Proper 5. There are 207 families who are staying in the different evacuation centers.
The NDCC memorandum said when two or more barangays are affected by disaster, the Sangguniang Bayan or Panlungsod upon the recommendation of the municipal or city mayor may declare the entire municipality or city under the state of calamity. The Sangguniang Resolution embodying the declaration need not be reviewed or approved by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan.
The cancellation of classes was called for by Iloilo City School Superintendent Erlinda Gencaya though the city is not experiencing any storm signal after certain areas here were in flood waters.
Since Sunday, there are already 15 barangays in Jaro affected by flood waters. The water subsided Sunday afternoon. However, the water level in Jaro River rose early dawn Monday. The water level reached to 5.8 meters and residents living along the creeks have to be evacuated to multi-purpose hall, barangay hall and covered gym.
Hours later, the water level dropped at the Jaro River. Nevertheless, the alert level was still raised as monsoon rains continue to pour.
Association of Barangay Captains (ABC) Jaro President Jonas Bellosillo said only families who transferred to evacuation centers can avail of the emergency food relief assistance from the city government.
Bellosillo said only on extreme cases that they can provide food assistance to the affected families. These are areas which are hard to reach. The social workers are checking whatever figures are reported to the CSWDO for the release of immediate assistance.
The punong barangays will receive the goods from the CSWDO and distribute it to the affected families inside the evacuation centers. It is important that they should be at the relocation site for proper accounting.
CSWDO head Fred Villanueva said they have enough supply of relief goods for the affected families. The CSWDO had already distributed food assistance such as rice, sardines and noodles. He recommended that each barangay organize “a committee on kitchen” to ensure that every family can have their share on the food assistance.