ROXAS City — The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) has taken proactive measures against disasters.
It has realigned part of the province’s 2012 pre-disaster preparedness and quick response fund to more priority programs, projects and activities to mitigate disasters.
Gov. Victor Tanco, who chairs the PDRRMC, said the province must be more prepared for any calamity by taking appropriate actions before it even happens.
The PDRRMC unanimously approved the realignment of P11.256 million from portions of the budget for the vital and programs of the province related to mitigating the effects of disasters.
Tanco said there is a need for Capiz to have evacuation centers that could accommodate people affected by calamities such as flood, fire, and the like.
He said that after the review of the 2012 PDRRMC’s work and financial plan, the council opted to realign the budget on mangrove and tree planting, tree nursery, acquisition of fire truck, bulldozer and backhoe and acquisition of heavy equipment.
“The plans are found to be relatively less essential in the current year operations of the PDRRMC compared to the requests at hand from different sectors and local government units for their DRR-related programs,” Tanco said.
As approved, the realigned budget will now be used for the construction of five evacuation centers, replacement of control panel refrigerated centrifuge for the Philippine Red Cross – Capiz Chapter, acquisition of PDRRMC 15-footer speedboat, repair of PDRRMC vehicles and heavy equipment, fuel and lubricants, communication equipment for the Capiz Volunteers Action Team, and acquisition of photocopier, multimedia projector and camera for the PDRRMC.
The evacuation centers, which funding reached P7 million, will be constructed in barangays Poblacion in Tapaz; Bungsuan in Dumarao, Poblacion in Pilar, Jaena Norte in Jamindan and in Dumolog, Roxas City.
Earlier, the PDRRMC has also realigned P3.5 million for the crop insurance against natural calamities and pests and diseases of 5,000 Capiz rice farmers with the Philippine Crop Insurance Corp., involving approximately 5,000 hectares of farm land.
Tanco pointed out that proactive measures and systematic approaches should be instituted to reduce the risks to hazards, as well as properly address the impacts of disasters. (Jemin Guillermo, PIA-6 Capiz/PN)
