ILOILO – The Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) approved a resolution placing the province under a state of calamity due to the devastation brought by Tropical Depression “Agaton”.
With the declaration, the SP also gave the go-signal to utilize P65.9 million from the provincial disaster risk reduction management fund quick response trust fund for preventive measures and needs of residents affected by floods two weeks ago.
Resolution No. 5 of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, presented to the SP and approved during its regular session on Tuesday, showed the flooding caused around P733.3 million in damage to various crops and P185.7 million in destruction to provincial roads and bridges.
Further, 11 local government units mostly in northern Iloilo declared a state of calamity.
“Of the P65 million, around P44 million will go to agriculture, for fisherfolks, high-value crops, rice and fisheries where the damage was huge,” SP’s presiding officer and Senior Board member Rolando Distura said.
He added that families in over 1,100 damaged houses will also receive P10,000 assistance each.
Provincial Administrator Lawyer Dennis Ventilacion said the provision of assistance will be carried out once the election ban is lifted.
He said that they still have to process the documents and procure the assistance to be provided to target recipients.
“With this approval we can access for more funds. We plan to ask for national funding, especially for our damaged infrastructure,” he said. (PNA/PN)
