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The six towns that requested the SP for the declaration are Midsayap, Libungan, Pikit, Mlang, Tulunan and Kidapawan City.
Those against the proposal were board members Solema Jubilan, Reynaldo Pagal, Freddie Baynosa, Edgar Van Cadungon, Jose Tejada, Vicente Sorupia and Provincial Councilors’ League President Celestino Rapacon.
Shirlyn Macasarte, Farida Malingco, Eliseo Garcisa, Manuel dela Cerna and Association of Barangay Chairmen president Nonard Bilbao and Sangguniang Kabataan provincial federation president Joy Marie Garcia voted in favor to the request.
Vice Gov. Jesus Sacdalan said the proposal came after the local government units of the affected town submitted requests for the declaration of a state of calamity to the office of Gov. Manny Piñol, citing natural calamities.
“The affected towns failed to support their claims that they were devastated with natural calamity, the very reason why majority of the members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan disapproved the request,” Sacdalan said.
The declaration is needed before a local government unit can use its calamity fund to provide assistance to constituents affected by either man-made or natural disasters.
Piñol endorsed the proposal before the SP after delivering his state of the province address at the provincial gymnasium on Tuesday.