Disaster team to revise budget for new expenses

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) will reprogram its budget for 2016 so it can allocate funds to fix roads damaged by recent landslides and riprap rivers to prevent overflow during heavy rains.

CDRRMO has a budget of P346 million.

The City Council also raised to P146 million the proposed budget of CDRRMO intended for infrastructure, site acquisition and evacuation facility from the original P30 million.

Part of the P146 million will be used to establish a relocation site for Cebu City residents affected by catastrophes.

The council committee on budget and finance also asked the disaster office to submit a breakdown of the P25 million intended for the Emergency Medical Services ambulances and the honorarium of its personnel.

Barangay captains who attended the committee hearing at City Hall yesterday said EMS ambulances have been very useful.

Bañacia explained the present administration wants to centralize the MES ambulances, which means only 10 ambulances will be used in the entire city.

He said based on his observation these past months, 10 ambulances can respond immediately to emergencies.

Bañacia said the public must be educated on what emergency really means.

"Ang mga tawo man gud ron paraygon na kaayo. Naay time nga naay na-nawag emergency daw so ni-respond… pagka kuan dysmenorrhea ra man diay to," he said.

Councilor Joey Daluz said the council understands the policy of the present administration to provide more a more professional service, which means all EMS personnel must undergo training and must be accredited by the Department of Health.

"There are a lot of changes sa policy… ang akoa lang, hangyo lang sa disaster, is to inform the barangays with the new policy," he told reporters yesterday.

During the time of Mayor Michael Rama, the city issued ambulances to each barangay. (FREEMAN)