Areas and local government units that were spared from the wrath of Typhoons ‘Ondoy’ and ‘Pepeng’ were urged last week to help and assist typhoon-damaged areas in the country. And even before Typhoon ‘Pepeng’ struck the northern part of the country, the Department of Interior and Local Government has urged unaffected areas to aid affected areas prepare better for the coming calamity.
This move of by the department to remind LGUs was a good reminder to those which remained in complacency for most part of last week. Just last week, Typhoon ‘Ondoy’ dumped heavy rains in Metro Manila and other areas and submerged these areas for a number of days. The destruction brought by the typhoon has cost more 100 million in infrastructure damages and cost the lives of around 293 people. As a measure to avoid the same issues days before the second typhoon struck the country, the department under the leadership of Secretary Ronnie Puno called on the LGUs to assist and extend financial help to the affected areas if necessary. When Typhoon ‘Pepeng’ hit the country a few days ago, the government declared most areas in the north under the state of calamity. The coverage of the state of calamity was then widened to include the rest of the country.
The department through its acting secretary suggested ways on how the unaffected LGUs can help the typhoon-stricken areas of the country. The acting department secretary cited the Sections 5 (a) of the Rules and Regulations Implementing the RA 8185. Under this section, the local government units may allocate and use the portion of the five percent calamity fund provided that the areas that will receive the funding are also declared as state of calamity. The same section also states that the calamity fund can be used for the relief efforts, the reconstruction and the rehabilitation in connection with the calamities that may happen within the budget year. These unaffected LGUs according to the department can undertake relief operating that may include the provision of emergency assistance like provision of temporary shelter and relief goods. These LGUs can also undertake reconstruction efforts as a way to assist the affected LGUs.
The department through its acting secretary suggested ways on how the unaffected LGUs can help the typhoon-stricken areas of the country. The acting department secretary cited the Sections 5 (a) of the Rules and Regulations Implementing the RA 8185. Under this section, the local government units may allocate and use the portion of the five percent calamity fund provided that the areas that will receive the funding are also declared as state of calamity. The same section also states that the calamity fund can be used for the relief efforts, the reconstruction and the rehabilitation in connection with the calamities that may happen within the budget year. These unaffected LGUs according to the department can undertake relief operating that may include the provision of emergency assistance like provision of temporary shelter and relief goods. These LGUs can also undertake reconstruction efforts as a way to assist the affected LGUs.
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