Guimaras to be placed under State of Calamity due to #OdettePH aftermath upon approval of Sanggunian

After typhoon Odette left a trail of devastation in the island-province, Guimaras Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) passed a resolution to recommend for the declaration of a state of calamity.

During the PDRRMC meeting today at 9 am of December 18, 2021 held at the Food Court Area, PDRRMC Resolution No. 4 Series of 2021 was passed by the body to recommend to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan the said declaration in the entire Province of Guimaras.

Awaiting their respective and concrete damage assessment reports, the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office representatives present have agreed through pronouncement that said declaration is necessary.

The declaration of the PDRRMC is anchored on the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) Memorandum Order No. 60 series of 2019 which provides for the revised guidelines for the declaration of a state of calamity.Among the seven conditions of the criteria set by the said Order, four have been identified by the PDRRMC to support the said declaration, to wit: a.) at least fifteen percent of the forecasted affected population based on science-based projection are in need of emergency assistance; b.) at least thirty percent of the means of livelihood on agricultural, business, and industrial sectors are affected; c.) damage to critical and lifeline infrastructure/facilities such as major roads and bridges, power stations, potable water supply systems, and telecommunication facilities; d.) widespread destruction of fishponds, crops, poultry and livestock.

Governor Samuel T. Gumarin eyes to hasten the said declaration to pool and utilize funds for relief and assistance.

“Ari kita diri bangud we want to speed up the declaration of state of calamity sa probinsiya sang Guimaras while gina-iron out naton ang pagclassify sang damage,” Gumarin said

Meanwhile, San Lorenzo MDRRMO representative Rosa Ara Leyble said that the most affected areas are those involved in crops and livelihood.

“So far ang amon damages sa mga households kag mga balay minimal ang ginhatag namon so far kay initial nga report palang ang nahatag nila. This day ma conduct kami rapid damage assessment together with the 12 barangays. Ang amon ginawait kay ang daku-dako gid namon nga affected is the crops and livelihood gid,” she said.

She further emphasized that the data gathering and finalization remain a challenge because barangay officials are likewise affected by the typhoon.

Indi kami kahaboy data sa DRR kung wala sila data gid nga halin sa barangay. Then ang naga hamper sa amon operations is sa amon mga barangays total blackout gid kami sa San Lorenzo so si barangay overwhelmed na sila kay may evacuation pa so far kahapon pa nila ginpabalik sa families after sa sang declaration sang lifting sang signal sang typhoon,” she said.

“Bal-an mo indi nila totally mobilize ang ila nga tawo kay sila affected man mismo,” she added.

State of calamity is defined under NDRRMC Memorandum Order No. 60 Series of 2019 as a condition involving mass casually and/or major damages to the environment, property, infrastructures, disruption of means of livelihoods and business, normal way of life of people in the affected areas as a result of the occurrence of natural or human-induced hazard.

The Provincial Price Coordinating Council, in partnership with the Department of Trade and Industry, have conducted pre and post monitoring of prices to ensure that there is no overpricing/profiteering and hoarding of prime commodities.

Provincial government department heads have been mobilized to speed up data gathering and assist in the finalization of the reports needed for the approval of the declaration.