Philippines: DILG reminds local gvts in N. Mindanao of their role to mitigate disasters
PIA press release by Apipa Bagumbaran
Cagazan de Oro City, Misamis Oriental - The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) has reminded local government units (LGU’s) in Northern Mindanao of their responsibilities in mitigating the impact of disasters.
Speaking today before the members of the media during the “Talakayan sa PIA” held at the Philippine Information Agency, here, Director Loreto Bhagwani of DILG, region 10, said that part of the functions of LGUs is to come-up with policies and ordinances that will lessen the impact of disasters within their areas of responsibility (AOR).
He emphasized that mitigating disaster is relevant to the service delivery operations functions of every LGUs and that they should strengthen their policies on illegal logging since it is one of the major causes of flooding the region.
Based on the report of the Office of the Civil Defense (OCD), region 10, flooding is the number one disaster in Northern Mindanao. It has noted nine incidents of flooding in the region from January to June, this year, compared to the just three incidents last year.
Meanwhile, Bhagwani clarified that aside from the 5% calamity fund, LGUs can also use their 20 percent development fund for disaster-related projects.
He said under the new guidelines issued by the DILG, LGUs can make use of the 20% Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) to fund for disaster-related projects to help them prepare and respond to disasters and calamities.
Asked how prepared the Northern Mindanao LGUs are for any disaster, Bhagwani said all of the 98 LGUs, i.e., five provinces, 85 municipalities and eight cities, in the region have already re-organized their local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (DRRMC).
But as to how responsive the LGU’s will become, Bhagwani said it will depend on their capabilities.
However, he said that capability trainings are continuously being conducted for members of local DRRMC’s to ensure their preparedness in times of disasters and calamities, Bhagwani concluded. (PIA10)