3 fire-hit sitios declared under state of calamity

The Cebu City Council yesterday declared under state of calamity three sitios in as many barangays that were hit by fire, paving the way for the release soon of a part of the city's P20 million calamity fund needed to fund relief operations and rehabilitation of these places.

Councilor Jocelyn Pesquera proposed the first resolution placing under state of calamity sitio Lower Yati in barangay Quiot where a fire destroyed six houses and rendered 10 families homeless.

Councilors Gerardo Carillo and Edgardo Labella proposed the two other resolutions declaring under state of calamity sitios Mutra I in barangay Tisa and sitio Panagda-it in barangay Mabolo.

A fire razed six houses in sitio Mutra I while another fire recently destroyed three houses in sitio Panagdait.

Section 324 of Republic Act 7160 provides that "five percent of the estimated revenue from regular sources shall be set aside as annual lump sum appropriation for relief and other works and services in connection with calamities which may occur during the budget year."

Carillo said the law also defines calamity as a "state of extreme distress or misfortune produced by some adverse circumstance or event or any great misfortune or loss of misery caused by natural or man made disaster." - Garry B. Lao