For national declaration: RDRRMC-6 wants PNoy to place 3 provinces in state of calamity

ILOILO CITY, Philippines --- Members of the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC)-Region 6 on Friday’s emergency meeting unanimously approved the passing of a resolution requesting President Benigno S. Aquino III to declare three provinces in Western Visayas under state of calamity.

RDRRMC-6 Resolution No. VI-Series 2012 cited that tropical depression Quinta, which pummeled the region last December 25-26, brought tremendous damage to life and property.

On the same day, Capiz and Iloilo provinces were placed under state of calamity because of the wide destruction left by Quinta.

According to Ma. Aletha Nogra of the RDRRMC-6 secretariat, the national declaration of state of calamity on three provinces would further boost the earlier declaration made by their respective provincial government.

“Once there would be a national declaration, these provinces have the opportunity to receive international assistance for rehabilitation and recovery programs,” she explained.

As it is, Nogra said more help is needed for long-term programs that should be implemented the soonest time possible to affected communities.

As of Sunday morning, RDRRMC-6 said Quinta affected 39,020 families composed of 171,742 individuals. There were 298 houses totally damaged and 1,159 partially destroyed.

Iloilo province was the most “battered” area with 25,298 affected families and 10 casualties; Capiz recorded 10,368 affected families and two deaths, while Aklan has 3,254 affected families and two deaths.

RDRRMC-6 also reported that 19,098.45 hectares of farmland were damaged, and the damage to agriculture was pegged at more than P63 million. On the other hand, the damage to infrastructure was estimated at P72 million.

Last Saturday, Undersecretary Benito Ramos, OCD administrator and NDRRMC executive director, visited the affected areas in Iloilo province. He brought 2,500 packs, each consisting of rice, noodles and ready-to-eat foods like biscuits and canned goods to affected families.

The relief goods were just the initial release from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). Ramos also did an aerial survey on the damage left by Quinta in Panay Island. (FREEMAN)