Capiz dad urges disaster preparedness
ROXAS CITY — The Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) on its regular session last Thursday has approved several resolutions for calamity preparedness in Capiz province and Roxas City.
The said resolutions which were authored by Board Member Esteban “Nonoy” Contreras are: enjoining the province and its component Local Government Units (LGUs) to reactivate their Local Disaster Coordinating Councils and brace for calamities by initiating preparedness measures to mitigate the risk and reduce the impact of natural disaster and calamities and calling on the Congress to pass a law authorizing LGUs to also use the 5% calamity fund for research on calamity risk, training on disaster management, and purchase of monitoring and rescue equipment independent of the actual occurrence of calamities.
The resolution will also include the rehabilitation of dredging machine at the Provincial Engineer’s Office (PEO) which was bought during the stint of former Governor Esteban Contreras (the board member’s father) to be used in dredging of the Tinagong Dagat which serves as the waterway to the sea.
In his privilege speech entitled pro-action rather than reaction, Contreras said that Atty. Blas Nolasco, Jr. sent a letter to Gov. Victor Tanco, Sr. about the state of Tinagong Dagat, which according to him is the catch basin of floodwater coming from the upland municipalities, that is now silted.
Contreras said that threats of global warming are clear and real adding that it is necessary to come up with a concrete long-term disaster preparedness plan or program that also entails pre-disaster initiatives, and undertakings.
“The heavy siltation of Tinagong Dagat became the major culprit in several floodings, which Capiz have experienced in the past,” Contreras said adding that his father’s administration recommended the demolition of illegal structures that blocked the water ways to the sea.
Finally, Contreras said that he earnestly hopes that the present administration, without discounting the administration that will follow, would seriously consider Tinagong Dagat in its disaster management agenda.