KIDAPAWAN CITY (MindaNews / 23 November) — At least P7.84 million of unexpended funds from the Local Disaster Risk And Reduction Management Office (LDRRMO) and accrued special trust fund were approved for release for the city government’s continuing disaster response operations.
The Sangguniang Panglungsod, in its special session on Tuesday, approved the Appropriation Ordinance Number 19-007.
Mayor Joseph Evangelista has at least 10 days to sign the ordinance.
The approval of the supplemental budget in in response to the state of calamity the SP earlier declared earlier after a series of earthquakes hit the city, including four above Magnitude 6 quakes that registered Intensity 7 in Kidapawan between October 16 and 31: Magnitude 6.3 on October 16, Magnitudes 6.6 and 6.1 on October 29 and Magnitude 6.5 on October 31.
Fund sources for the supplemental budget came from the unexpended LDRRMO fund.
As of Saturday, November 23, at least 1,700 families have remained in the evacuation sites in barangays Ilomavis, Perez, and Balabag. These families, according to reports from the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CDRRMC), are from areas declared as ‘no build zones.’
Only one of 14 councilors present during the session on November 19 opposed the measure.
Councilor Lauro Taynan, Jr., voted against the local legislation, while his daughter, Sangguniang Kabataan Federation chair, Cenn Tina voted for its passage.
The other councilors who voted for the approval are Melvin Lamata, Jr., Maritess Malaluan, Carlo Agamon, Irene Claire Pagal, Rodolfo Lonzaga, Narry Amador, Pepoy Dizon, Ruby Padilla-Sison, ABC Federation President Morgan Melodias, Indigenous Peoples Mandatory Representative Radin Igwas, and Peter Salac. (Malu Cadelina-Manar / MindaNews)
