Valenzuela dads blamed for delay in calamity relief

Valenzuela City councilors, majority of whom belong to the opposition, are being blamed for the delay in the approval of a resolution declaring the city in a state of calamity.

The resolution would have facilitated the release of available funds for relief assistance and repair of damaged infrastructure in the city due to the onslaught of floodwaters brought by typhoons Florita and Glenda last week, City Mayor Sherwin Gatchalian said yesterday.

"The city councilors concerned are sitting on the resolution, effectively delaying the delivery of needed services to the flood victims in the city," city officials close to the mayor said yesterday.

This developed as Vice Mayor Antonio Espiritu, presiding officer of the City Council, sought the approval of councilors by calling a special session for the purpose Friday last week.

The session was adjourned for lack of quorum. Only five councilors sympathetic to the administration were present, but only one from the opposition, Councilor Lanie Trinidad, answered the roll call.

City officials, who declined to be named, accused the opposition in the council of again making a deliberate attempt to block efforts of the administration to deliver prompt and quality service to the people.

Marither Menia, city information officer, said damage to infrastructure was at 30 percent, affecting some 30,000 people in 17 barangays, mostly in low-lying District 1. Highest inundation occurred at 1.2 meters in Dulong Tangke, Barangay Malinta.

The information chief said there was a strong clamor from the community, with letters sent to the council from urban poor groups, church representatives and transport organizations, seeking the immediate declaration of a state of calamity for the city.

In a phone interview yesterday, opposition Councilor Mar Morelos, speaking on behalf of the majority, said this was not true.

Morelos said the opposition majority is neither getting in the way nor are they negotiating for anything in exchange for approving the resolution being sought by the executive.

The councilor said he cannot be party to any derailment of the effort to assist those affected by the floodwaters because early on he had already introduced a resolution calling for the same declaration.

"Kung tutol ako, di ako magpapatawag ng special session for a declaration of a state of calamity)in the first place," Morelos said.

He said the councilors who failed to attend last Friday’s session have their own reasons for being absent. He said many want further consultation, adding that they will, for certain, approve the measure within this week.

"Matatapos din yan. Pero gusto naming pulido kung saan gagamitin. Kailangan talaga specific," Morelos said. The official said the councilors were not furnished the list of the supposed areas for repair and rehabilitation. — With Pete Laude