by Perla Lena/Philippine News Agency
ILOILO CITY — The Iloilo City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CDRRMC) will convene on April 22 to assess the effects of the El Niño weather phenomenon.
In an interview Thursday, Iloilo City DRRM Officer Donna Magno said whether or not the metropolis would be placed under a state of calamity – as well as the funds for emergency response activities — would depend on the result of the assessment.
Magno said their assessment began by looking at barangays affected by drought in 2013, 2015, and 2016. They also looked into barangays that were unserved by the Metro Iloilo Water District.
“Of the 33 barangays that were assessed, 23 barangays reported that 20 percent of their population, or more, were affected,” she said.
As of Thursday, more than 75,000 of the city’s population have been affected, she said, adding that the number is expected to increase as reports continue to come in.
Magno noted that they are also consulting concerned offices to look into the criteria or basis for declaring a local government unit under a state of calamity.
Placing the local government unit under a state of calamity will allow barangays to use their quick response fund (QRF), such as in purchasing water tanks. Later on, they can convert them into rainwater harvesting facility.
Iloilo City has a PHP115-million local DRRM fund, 30 percent of which can be used as QRF once it is placed under a state of calamity.
The other 70 percent is for preparedness measures, even without a declaration. Among the activities funded by the 70-percent share are training courses, prevention, mitigation and operation of the Iloilo City Emergency Response.
On March 26, selected members of the CDRRMC already convened to pass a resolution urging barangays to organize a task force to monitor water efficiency, protection and conservation in their jurisdictions.
An ad hoc committee was also created to spearhead the assessment of the impact of the El Niño in the city and identify immediate and long-term solutions.