City Council urged to pass disaster fund

Friday night’s earthquake stresses the urgency for the Cebu City government to already have a command center that will coordinate its disaster preparedness and response, said Mayor Michael Rama.

Rama has again reminding the City Council of the urgency to pass the P157.5 million Disaster Risk Reduction Management Fund LDRRMF) which includes the P34.6 million budget for the command center.

“I wanted to again bring this to the attention of the City Council. I do not want that under my watch calamities will happen and we will just look back and bring our regrets because we did not put our acts together,” he said in a press conference yesterday afternoon.

The City Council has tabled for approval of the fund which can be used for disaster preparedness and impact mitigation and also for disaster quick response.

City Councilors however still wanted to be clarified of some items in the  proposed budget like the P98.7 million LDRRMC trust fund. They are also asking for an accounting of the 2011 LDRRMF.

Rama said that if the P34.6 million command center budget is not approved this year, he will include the item in the 2013 draft budget.

“I just hope that no major disasters will happen before they act on the measure,” he said.

The command center allocation being proposed by Rama will include the acquisition and installation of all weather communication equipments and CCTVs.

Rama wanted the command center to occupy a structure that be  built on an elevated area to make sure that this will not get flooded.

He wanted the center personnel to coordinate the city’s disaster preparedness and response efforts and facilitate the immediate release of information in case of emergencies brought about by natural and man-made disasters. Doris C. Bongcac, Chief of Reporters