THE 20th Davao City Council on Tuesday approved the declaration of a state of calamity in 23 barangays hit by flash floods and landslides and also issued authority for the use of Php 84 million from the calamity fund for assistance to the victims.
“From Davao City LGU, the assistance to be given from the Quick Response Fund (QRF) is PHP84,350,000 that is our QRF for the city, meaning for the barangays,” Davao City Councilor Myrna Dalodo-Ortiz told reporters on Tuesday.
The calamity fund will be allocated to the 16 flood-affected barangays – Lasang, San Isidro, Bunawan Proper, 1-A, 2-A, 5-A, 8-A, 9-A, 10-A, 19-B, Matina Crossing, Ma-a, Tigatto, Waan, New Carmen, and Tambobong; and seven landslide-affected barangays – Marilog Proper, Salaysay, Tamugan, Lamanan, Saloy, Malabog, and Paquibato Proper.
She added that apart from the Php 84 million fund for the barangays affected, the council also approved Php 19 million in assistance to other Local Government Units in the form of welfare goods, and Php 6.1 million in financial assistance to other provinces. The funds are sourced from the Quick Response Fund (QRF), which is equivalent to 30 percent of the calamity fund– an amount equivalent to five percent of the 2024 Annual Budget. Ortiz noted that currently, the city has Php 188 million in QRF.
Ortiz said that despite the allocation, the city government still has a trust fund to be used in cases of future calamities.
“In extreme cases, we still have fund because the unutilized calamity fund will be deposited in a trust fund, every year we have an excess because this is the first time that we incurred quite a huge damage from the calamity. So our trust fund, which is specifically for the utilization of the QRF, will amount to more than Php 600 million so it is big enough for Davao City, God forbids, it will be used in case of calamities,” Ortiz said.
City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) Head Alfredo Baloran said that the funds will be used to augment food packs and to address the immediate needs of the affected families. Those who are not in evacuation centers are also considered affected families.
Baloran said that drop-off points are identified where the welfare goods can be claimed.
“We only give once but if the victims will have additional needs the CSWDO will take care of them,” Baloran said, adding that the amount will also help farmers affected by the flood and landslides.
City Social Welfare and Development Office Officer-In-Charge Julie P. Dayaday, in an interview with the City Information Office, on Tuesday said that as of February 6, 2023, a total of 38,343 families were affected by flooding, while 338 families were affected by landslide.
She said that there is an increase in the number of landslide-affected families as of noontime on February 6 from the 267 families recorded on February 5.
This was because the CSWDO added to the list those living along roads blocked by debris from the mass wasting.
City Agriculturist Office Officer-In-Charge Edgardo Haspe, also in an interview with the CIO, said that they will be distributing seeds and fertilizers to farmers affected by the calamities.
As of February 6, 2023, the CAgrO record showed that landslides and flash floods damaged a total of 102.80 hectares of rice, corn, and high-value crops, affecting 221 farmers. The estimated cost of damage was Php 9 million.
