Bataan placed under state of calamity

By Jose Mari Garcia

Wednesday 8th of August 2012

CITY OF BALANGA, Bataan, Aug 8 (PIA) -- Bataan is now under state of calamity as chest-high floods brought by the southwest monsoon continue to sweep towns which top officials said is the worst flooding to hit the province since 1986.

The Sangguniang Panlalawigan passed on Tuesday, August 7, Resolution No. 58, which placed the peninsula under calamity state after about 200,000 Bataeños were affected by non-stop rains and flood.

The province landed second among Central Luzon provinces with the most number of casualties at three, following Bulacan which had four deaths.

Rice fields were also plagued by sweeping floods as the agriculture sector here incurred P2.6 million damages, the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) reported.

Governor Enrique Garcia Jr. said the province has never suffered such flooding since 1986.

Mariveles Mayor Jesse Concepcion expressed approval over the implementation of the state of calamity that allows municipalities to use their calamity fund.

“It is proper to declare state of calamity so the affected people could be given more help. This is substantiated by the Memorandum Circular No. 33 series of 2012 signed by Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa, Jr. for the suspension of work and classes,” said Concepcion.

The directive was raised over the National Capital Region and nine other nearby provinces including Bataan as recommended by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration due to inclement weather.

PDRRMC head Teresita Señora said the province and municipalities can now use 30 percent of their calamity fund for the purchase of relief goods. The other 70 percent is used for the rescue trainings and procurement of rescue equipment, she said.

Meanwhile, “the affected people can avail of the calamity loan in SSS, GSIS and PAG-IBIG. What they could get will depend on their salary,” said Señora.

The government and private groups have poured in about P2 million worth of assistance for the affected civilians. (RMB/JMG-PIA3 Bataan)