GUIMARAS – The provincial government here was the first in Western Visayas to declare a state of calamity.
On Sunday morning, two days after super typhoon “Odette” struck, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) held a special session to approve such a declaration, citing the devastation that the island province suffered in its agriculture and infrastructure.
“This is the first time in my 43 years of existence nga amo ‘ni ang pinakabaskug nga nag-agi sa probinsya. Ang hangin nagahuni,” said Vice Gov. John Edward Gando who presided the SP special session.
Strong winds started whipping Guimaras around 10 p.m. on Dec. 16 and further escalated by 2 a.m. of Dec. 17, said Gando.
This went on for some six hours, according to Gando, the reason why many trees fell.
“Lain ya sang time ni (super typhoon) Yolanda (in November 2013) nga after an hour makita mo gid ang pagpuas. But sa sini nga bagyo kita namon nga extended kag malawig nga inoras ang pagbayo ya diri sa probinsya,” said Gando.
The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) recommended the declaration of a state of calamity, according to Gando.
Guimaras met the conditions set by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) in Memorandum Order No. 60, Series of 2019, he said.
Of the seven conditions or criteria, PDRRMC cited four, Gando told Panay News. These were the following:
* at least 15 percent of the forecasted affected population based on science-based projection are in need of emergency assistance
* at least 30 percent of the means of livelihood on agricultural, business and industrial sectors are affected
* damage to critical and lifeline infrastructure/facilities such as major roads and bridges, power stations, potable water supply systems, and telecommunication facilities
* widespread destruction of fishponds, crops, poultry and livestock
Guimaras also recorded two typhoon-related deaths – couple Rodolfo Castro, 72, and Virginia Palencia, 64, of Sibunag town. A typhoon-uprooted buri tree crushed their shack.
With the declaration of a state of calamity, the provincial government could now utilize its calamity fund to finance rehabilitation efforts and give assistance to people who were displaced, said Gando.
“Then pursuant to the (NDRRMC) memorandum, authorities can now declare a price freeze once may ara sang escalation or timbuok sang mga presyo diri sa probinsya,” he added.
The provincial government’s Local Price Coordination Council will be monitoring the prices of goods.
On Dec. 18, a day after “Odette” struck, Gov. Samuel Gumarin held a meeting with PDRRMC and the municipal DRRM officers of the towns of Jordan, Buenavista, Nueva Valencia, San Lorenzo, and Sibunag “bangud we want to speed up the declaration of a state of calamity.”/PN
