Pototan mayor seeks help for twister victims
Pototan Mayor Pablo Parcon said he will ask the Sangguniang Bayan (SB) of Pototan to hold a special session for the approval of a Supplemental Budget meant to assist the victims of a twister that hit the town recently.
said at least 48 houses were affected and number of families affected when a twister hit Barangay Paho afternoon of October 21. Fortunately, no resident was injured after roofs of houses were carried by the tornado. The victims sought shelter from their relatives.
Before the twister struck, the residents noticed that it was very humid and it rained hard in the afternoon.
Parcon said they have to consider the criteria set by the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) in declaring the area under the state of calamity. The barangay met one of the criteria which states that 20 percent of the population is affected by a disaster because of the number of houses totally and partially destroyed by a tornado.
However, on the issue on the devastation of crops such as rice land, Parcon explained there were no crops destroyed by the twister.
The memorandum order from the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) states that 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.
In the recent NDCC memorandum order which amended some policies, procedures and criteria for the declaration of local chief executive, 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 damage assessment and evaluation of the disaster coordinating council.
