BAGUIO CITY – The City Council approved an ordinance granting financial assistance in the total amount of P1.5 million to Batangas and Cavite which are now under a state of calamity due to the recent eruption of the Taal volcano.
The ordinance authored by all members of the city legislative body states the P1 million will be given to Batangas which has been badly stricken by the volcanic eruption while the remaining P500,000 will be given to Cavite, one of the heavily affected areas.
The ordinance stipulates the financial assistance will be used by the two city governments to support the individuals and families displaced from their residences and sources of livelihood and are now based in evacuation centers in the different parts of the affected provinces.
The aforesaid amount will be charged to the 2020 City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund of the city government, specifically the 30 percent allocation for the city’s quick response fund pursuant to existing laws, rules and regulations.
Earlier, the scenic Taal volcano had phreatic eruptions last January 12, 2020 to date with the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Philvolcs) issuing alert Level 4 in the areas surrounding the active volcano because of potential more explosive eruptions.
The phreatic eruption from the main crater spewed ashes to the Cavite-Laguna-Batangas-Rizal-Quezon, Metro Manila, some parts of Central Luzon, Pangasinan and the Ilocos Region that eventually resulted to the temporary suspension of classes, work in government and private offices and even in incoming and outgoing flights in the different airports located within the vicinity of the active volcano.
The provincial governments of Batangas and Cavite subsequently declared their said provinces are under a state of calamity on January 13 and 15, 2020, respectively, because of the serious negative impact of the phreatic eruption of the volcano.
The Baguio City government on numerous occasions had been providing financial assistance to cities, municipalities and provinces struck by natural or man-made calamities as a show of concern for those affected by the calamities.
Aside from Batangas and Cavite, the city government also provided financial assistance to the earthquake-stricken areas of Batanes and Mindanao areas and the typhoon-stricken sites in Cagayan and Apayao over the past several months.
Under the provisions of Republic Act (RA) 10121 or the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010, local governments are mandated to appropriate at least 5 percent of their annual budget for their local disaster risk reduction and management fund wherein 70 percent will be appropriated for preparedness and mitigation measures, programs, projects and activities while 30 percent will be earmarked for their quick response fund that could be used for emergency needs of the concerned local governments.
The ordinance will be finalized and submitted to the Office of the City Mayor for signature and the eventual preparation of the checks to be issued to the recipient local governments for their ongoing relief operations.
By Dexter A. See
