32 barangays may lose P1M rescue equipment

CEBU, Philippines – At least 32 barangays in Cebu City have not yet submitted the list of disaster response and rescue equipment needed in their areas as part of the disaster preparedness program of the city.

Councilor David Tumulak, chairman of Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, said he is giving these barangays until the end of the month to submit so each could avail of the P1 million worth of rescue equipment.

“Ang equipments katong tag 1 million, out of 80 barangay only 48 palang ang naka-submit, the remaining 32 wala pa. So, namiligro ni sila nga dili mahatagan tungod kay kinahanglan man nga maka-submit sila ato,” he said.

Tumulak said the 32 barangays that have yet to submit the list are Adlaon, Banilad, Cambinocot, Capitol Site, Carreta, Cogon Ramos, Day-as, Ermita, Guba, Hipodromo, Kalubihan, Kamputhaw, Kasambagan, Lahug, Luz, Pari-an, Pulangbato, Sirao, San Roque, Sta. Cruz, Talamban, Taptap, Tinago, Babag, Bonbon, Bulacao, Calamba, Cogon Pardo, Labangaon, Pahina San Nicolas, Sawang Calero, Sinsin, and Tisa.

The 48 barangays that have submitted are Apas, Agsungot, Bacayan, Binaliw, Budla-an, Busay, Kamagayan, Lorega-San Miguel, Lusaran, Mabini, Mabolo, Malubog, Paril, Pit-os, Sambag I, Sambag II, San Antonio, San Jose, Sibugay, Sirao, Señor Santo Niño, Tejero, T. Padilla, Pahina Central, Basak Pardo, Basak San Nicolas, Buot, Buhisan, Duljo-Fatima, Guadalupe, Inayawan, Kalunasan, Kinasang-an, Mambaling, Pamutan, Pasil, Poblacion Pardo, Pung-ol Sibugay, Punta Princesa, Quiot, San Nicolas Proper, Sapangdaku, Suba, Sudlon I, Sudlon II, Tabunan, Tag-bao, and Toong.

Tumulak said the barangays should fast track the submission of the list of the equipment as CCDRRMC is given until October 15 for the purchase request by the city’s bids and awards committee.

Among those that have not submitted are identified as landslide-prone barangays like Pamutan, Guba, Pulangbato, Babag, among others.

“Simbako naa mahitabo sa ilang barangay unya wala’y igo nga ekipo sila gihapon ang manubag ana sa ilang constituents,” he said.

Tumulak said the P80 million will be charged against the lump sum appropriation for the 2015 Capital Outlay.

“Kailangan ang i-request sa atong mga barangays ang kailangan mismo sa ilang area considering sa risk sa ilang barangay like kon flood-prone, landslide-prone ug uban pa,” he said.

There are selected equipment mentioned that can be charged against the disaster fund under the Department of the Interior and Local Government’s Memorandum Circular 2012-73 dated April 17, 2012 with the subject, “utilization of local disaster risk reduction and management fund.”

For the flooding equipment, barangays can purchase life vests, rescue whistles, megaphones with siren, floodlights, rain gauges, rubber boats, breathing  apparatus, portable generator set, illuminated jackets, among others.

Earthquake rescue equipment included forklifts, graders, hacksaws, backhoes, chisels, electric drills, chainsaws, concrete cutters, jackhammers, shovels, and crowbars and full-body harnesses, among others.

Landslide rescue equipment included dump trucks, graders, backhoes, hi-powered flashlights, emergency lights, foldable stretchers, and forklifts, among others.

Meanwhile, CCDRRMC attended yesterday to the impassable road in Sitio Upper Lupa, Barangay Sapangdaku because of a minor landslide in the area Sunday night.

The road was cleared yesterday afternoon. However, another minor landslide was recorded in the same barangay. Tumulak said CCDRRMC will clear the area today.

There were no recorded injuries and damage to properties in the minor landslides. —/FPL (FREEMAN)