Disaster council recommends state of calamity in Iloilo City

ILOILO CITY – The Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (LDRRMC) approved on Wednesday a resolution recommending this city under a state of calamity.

“The council recommended to declare a state of calamity based on the data reported from the ground and the same time from three different offices that helped validate the data on the ground of water scarcity problem in our barangays,” engineer Neil Ravena, head of the General Services Office, said in an interview.

Based on the data, 23,200 or over 25 percent of the 90,000 individuals from 25 barangays covered by the Calamity and Disaster Risk Assessment (CDRA) are affected, Ravena said, meaning this is more than enough of the 15 percent requirement before a city can be placed under a state of calamity.

Ravena said the severity of the situation widens when they include the around 25 barangays adjacent to the CDRA-covered villages, which might reach 30 to 40 percent.

Along with the resolution to declare the state of calamity, the council sought a PHP12 million fund to purchase static tanks for water distribution.

The city will augment 52 water tanks to ensure that the supply is sufficient.

“There are wells that dried up, and, worse, there are seawater intrusions and seepage. We monitor closely the seepage in Rizal Pala-Pala to avoid contamination and health problems,” he said.

Ravena said he met with two bulk water suppliers, Metro Pacific Iloilo Water and the South Balibago Waterworks, after the LDRRMC meeting for the possible deployment plan on water rationing.

“We emphasize that the water they will deliver based on the calamity situation should be on top of the delivery that they serve to barangays,” he added.

The recommendation will be endorsed to the Sangguniang Panlungsod for appropriate action.

Iloilo City on March 26 was placed in a state of calamity due to the pertussis outbreak. (PNA)