City is officially under state of preparedness

The City Council yesterday declared the city under the state of disaster preparedness in view of the bird flu threat, but deferred the approval of the proposal setting aside P10 million for such undertaking.

Although it adopted the proposed measure filed by councilors Gerardo Carillo and Hilario Davide III putting the city under state of disaster preparedness, the council however put on hold the approval of Carillo's separate measure providing P10 million for the purchase of medical equipment and supplies in line with the city's preparation against bird flu.

Under the House Rules of the council, allocation beyond P50,000 under the amendments portion of the agenda can only be approved if it has certification from the mayor for approval.

Vice Mayor Michael Rama pointed out that while they do not want to be caught flatfooted over the bird flu threat, certain rules have to be strictly complied with.

Councilor Edgardo Labella, chairman of the council committee on laws, said the mayor is empowered under the 1991 Local Government Code to call for a special session anytime should he deem it necessary.

Councilor Augustus Pe Jr. agreed, saying the mayor could call for a special session should there be an urgent need to allocate funds. With this, the council agreed to defer the approval of the appropriation.

Nevertheless, Carillo said the city could use its calamity fund for the bird flu threat by virtue of the measure declaring the city under state of disaster preparedness. The city has P120 million calamity fund for this year but only P15 million of it has been so far utilized.

The Local Government Code mandates a city to set aside five percent of its annual budget as calamity fund, 25 percent of which can be used for disaster preparedness activities.

Councilor Jocelyn Pesquera, who opposed the resolution, said officials from the Department of Health, City Health Department and Cebu City Medical Center should be invited to explain how they spent the P5 million for the city's 2003 programs on Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS).

According to Pesquera, the money was reportedly used to purchase SARS equipment even without the outbreak.

Meanwhile, the council adopted Labella's separate resolution urging the DOH to distribute anti-bird flu flyers in cockpits on Sundays to cause awareness among cock owners and handlers on the bird flu epidemic. - Cristina C. Birondo