State of calamity declared in Iloilo

ILOILO CITY, Philippines — This city was placed under a state of calamity yesterday due to the damage caused by Typhoon Odette.

The city council approved the recommendation of the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council for a calamity declaration.

On Monday, Mayor Jerry Treñas asked the city council to hold a special session to pass the needed resolution.

Records show that Odette affected 72,523 residents or more than 15 percent of the population in the city.

The resolution also cited the disruption of food, electricity and water supply.

Treñas said more than P42 million would be utilized as financial assistance for those whose houses were either damaged or destroyed by the typhoon.

The city social welfare and development office has inspected, confirmed and ratified the list of those who will receive the financial assistance.

“These are public funds and they should be utilized for public use,” Treñas said.

He said the family of Rosalyn Caberte, the lone typhoon fatality in this city, would also receive financial assistance.

Caberte died after a clump of bamboo fell and hit her house in Barangay Sambag in Jaro district on Friday.

Aside from the utilization of emergency funds for relief and rehabilitation efforts, the declaration of a state of calamity will result in an automatic price freeze under Republic Act 7581 or the Price Act.

Surigao Sur mulls calamity declaration

In Surigao del Sur, Gov. Alexander Pimentel said he convened a special session for the declaration of a state of calamity.

“Ang problema lahat ng LGUs (local government units) konti na lang ang calamity fund dahil nga sa pandemic,” Pimentel said during the Laging Handa briefing yesterday.

At least 45,043 families or 104,237 residents of Surigao del Sur were affected by the typhoon. There was no recorded fatality while one person was injured.

Pimentel said the northern part and coastal towns bore the brunt of the typhoon.

He said residents whose homes were affected by the typhoon would receive cash assistance ranging from P10,000 to P20,000 from the provincial government depending on the extent of the damage.

Twelve houses were destroyed while 225 others were damaged.

Pimentel said half of the province remains without electricity while communication lines are erratic.

The provincial government is still gathering data on damage to property due to the typhoon. – Emmanuel Tupas