Aimed at addressing concerns resulting from the series of earthquakes that struck Cotabato province recently, a joint meeting of the Regional Peace and Order Council (RPOC) and the Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC) was held yesterday, November 6 at the Capitol Rooftop, Amas, Kidapawan City.
According to the Office of Civil Defense, there are 31,807 families in 165 barangays in the province of Cotabato that are affected by the disaster which also resulted in 21 deaths.
Sultan Kudarat Governor Datu Suharto T. Mangudadatu who presided over the meeting said the disaster that hit Cotabato province is a concern of the entire SOCCSKSARGEN region and the RPOC will ensure that all concerned agencies and major services in government are tapped to assist in relief operations and the rehabilitation of affected local government units.
Evacuees not neglected
Mayors Armando M. Quibod of Makilala, Joseph A. Evangelista of Kidapawan City, Russel M. Abonado of M’lang, FlorenitoT. Gonzaga of Magpet and Reuel P. Limbungan of Tulunan took turns in presenting their respective situation reports. It was ascertained that relief assistance is properly managed and coordinated in their respective incident command posts and there is no truth to claims that the internally displaced persons are neglected.
The Philippine Army, Philippine National Police and other government agencies are assisting in the relief operations to ensure the security and safety of goods delivered and of the relief workers as well.
For local government units that are now in the rehabilitation phase, it was proposed that relocation sites be certified first as safe by the Phivolcs and the Mines and Geosciences Bureau to avoid further damage to lives and property.
Temporary learning centers will be built for the use of students and pupils while school buildings and classrooms are evaluated and not yet declared safe by the Department of Public Works and Highways and the Department of Education.
Task allocation
To avoid duplication or oversupply of relief items, SOCCSKSARGEN governors Mangudadatu of Sultan Kudarat, Reynaldo S. Tamayo, Jr. of South Cotabato and Steve C. Solon of Sarangani agreed to the task allocation for each province in assisting the province of Cotabato. Acting Governor Mendoza will be coordinating with them on this.
Governor Tamayo said that South Cotabato will be donating P2M worth of materials. The DILG has also brought 1,000 pieces malong.
The schools divisions of Sultan Kudarat, South Cotabato and Sarangani, will be providing temporary learning centers to assigned areas in Cotabato division.
Cabinet secretaries join meeting
Department of the Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo M. Año lauded the leadership of the province of Cotabato for handling of the situation well. He said this as he informed the governors, mayors and members of the RPOC and PPOC of Cotabato that a joint audit of the DILG, DPWH, DTI and DepEd will be conducted to investigate the damage or collapse of structures including school buildings. Cases will be filed against those responsible according to him.
He also stressed the importance of continued conduct of earthquake drills in schools and government institutions.
Department of National Defense Secretary Delfin N. Lorenzana and Department of Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque also attended the joint meeting and expressed their sympathy to the people Cotabato province. Security and health concerns are being addressed, they said.
The secretaries promised that all the issues and concerns tackled in the joint meeting will be reported to the president.
Outpouring of kindness
For her part, Cotabato PPOC Chairman Acting Governor Emmylou “Lala” J. Taliño-Mendoza thanked the cabinet secretaries and the governors for their presence as she expressed gratitude to the numerous donors who came to help Cotabateños in this time of need.
As the Chairman also of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, she emphasized the need for strict observance of disaster protocols and requested that DILG look into the inclusion of a possible 15-year structural guarantee in the contractor’s contract.
Directing her request to the national government, Mendoza proposed that the Armed Forces of the Philippines assign one Army Division per province.
Secretary Año also granted her request for the suspension of the Serbisyo Caravan in relation to the implementation of End Local Communist Armed Conflict or ELCAC as target barangays are affected by the earthquakes.//idcd//
