Rama says Council’s calamity declaration ‘irresponsible’ act

CEBU, Philippines - Declaring 17 upland barangays under a state of calamity "without" data at hand to back it up is an "irresponsible" move, according to Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama.

Last Wednesday, the City Council passed a resolution placing barangays Sudlon 1, Sudlon 2, Buot-Taup, Malubog, Tabunan, Bonbon,Lusaran, Adlaon, Sirao, Tagba-o, Taptap, Guba, Cambinocot, Paril, Budlaan, Pung-ol Sibugay and Sinsin under a state of calamity due to "unusual weather condition."

Rama, though, argued that it should not be a state of calamity but rather a "state of preparedness' only.  He said the declaration might disturb and trouble the people in the mountain barangays.

"Why are we declaring state of calamity in all? Ni-ana ta state of calamity tapos wa diay calamity didto. Nag-una man sila og state of calamity.  Ang ako ta na state of preparedness. With the data kahibalo na ta unsaon pag-approach," he said.

Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CCDRRMC) Chief Alvin Santillana also said there was no need to declare a state of calamity, advised the public not to panic.

 "You have to understand nga (that it is just) normal ra na siya (to have animals die of cold)," he said.

He also said that the reported 300 hectares of land affected by the low temperature did not really show crop damage.

 "Of course madaot gyud na because of the rain nga sunod-sunod, nya humok ang yuta, unya  hanginon pa," Santillana said.

He said that while people may find it strange that temperature is low when this usually happens in December and it is already January, the weather bureau allegedly reported that the lowest is really during January.

 "Nag-rain siya og moderate to heavy. Putol-putol, ang nahitabo pun-an pa sa hangin, basta hangin tugnaw ma na," Santillana said

Based on the report of the City Agriculture Department last Wednesday, however, crops and livestock worth P11.6 million were already affected by the cold weather, with at least 36 cattle, carabaos, piglets, goats and sheep were found dead in those barangays.

"Kadtong naay problema like malnutrition kun wa gyoy kaon, inig ka bugnaw patay gyod. Not applicable, you go by extent what is the percentage, you go by intelligence and analytical bases. (City) Council please go the bottom first," the mayor said.

City Councilor Dave Tumulak, who authored the measure, said the declaration was part of their "preparation and mitigation" approach.

"Para dili maglisod kita sa atong buhaton anytime nga i-implement na mao nga gi-declare nato nga under state of calamity," he said.

He agreed with Rama that data should be gathered first.

"Sakto si mayor dili moderetso-deretso kinahanglang og saktong data," he said.

Tumalak said they are still waiting for further assessment by City Veterinarian Pilar Romero, City Agriculturist Joey Baclayon, and by the barangay captains concerned.

Santillana said the City Health Department is also preparing medicines for the animals against fever, cough and pneumonia.

Also, because the weather is cold, Rama said that if it does not change, he like to do a "paradigm shift" and build a resort in the mountain barangays.   (FREEMAN)