By Noel Baguio
Davao City (22 January) -- Davao del Norte's Provincial Disaster Coordinating Council (PDCC) has endorsed a resolution requesting the Sangguniang Panlalawigan to declare the Province under state of calamity.
During the urgent meeting which was called and presided by PDCC Chair Gov. Rodolfo Del Rosario last January 20, 2008 at the Bulwagan ng Lalawigan, the council made the recommendation after 64 barangays in seven local government units was severely affected by flash floods last week due to intermittent rains.
Damages to crops and infrastructures were estimated to have reached about P30 million.
The flash floods affected about 16,000 families with nearly 50,000 dependents in the city of Tagum and the municipalities of Asuncion, Braulio E. Dujali, Carmen, Kapalong, New Corella and Santo Tomas.
Provincial Agriculturist Dominador Encarnacion said that majority of the farm areas are still on vegetable stage, which have high rate of recovery.
The concerned LGUs promptly distributed relief goods to the affected families, which was immediately augmented by the province.
The province has already dispatched some 272 sacks of rice, 124 boxes of noodles and 87 boxes of sardines to the affected families.
Semblante assured all the affected families will really be given assistance, saying her office is closely coordinating with the respective barangay and municipal coordinating councils in order to ascertain the recipients.
"Rest assured that we are closely coordinating with the various BDCCs and MDCCs so that we can really serve those who have not yet received assistance and also to avoid giving relief goods to the same recipient twice," Semblante said.
Gov. Del Rosario assured the province will use its calamity fund in order to rehabilitate the affected areas.
Meanwhile, Provincial Engineer Josie Jean Rabanos said the groundwork preparation for the construction of the Davao del Norte Sports Complex will be delayed because of the recent calamity.
She explained the heavy equipment used in the construction work will be temporarily used in rehabilitating damaged infrastructures, particularly roads destroyed by the floods.
"We have to focus our attention first to the rehabilitation of damaged roads and other important infrastructures as they are essential to get the development momentum of the affected areas back," she said. (PGO DAVNOR-PIA XI)