Lawmaker warns vs declaration of national calamity

Rep. Janette Garin (File photo from Philippine Daily Inquirer)

MANILA, Philippines — Iloilo Rep. Janette Garin on Sunday cautioned against declaring a state of national calamity and advised that the proclamation be limited to provinces heavily affected by Severe Tropical Storm Paeng (international name: Nalgae).

The Iloilo lawmaker, who is also House deputy majority leader, pointed out that calamity funds should not be depleted as the country still expects two or three tropical cyclones before the year ends and that other disasters might happen.

In a statement on Sunday, Garin asked the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) to study and fully assess if the declaration of a state of national calamity was necessary in the aftermath of Paeng.

She pointed out that there were advantages to such a declaration including an automatic price freeze on basic goods under Republic Act No. 7581, or the Price Act; granting by government financial institutions of loans with zero interest; the reprogramming of funds for infrastructure repair; and the mobilization of the government’s quick response funds, NDRRMC funds, as well as the president’s contingency and social funds to hasten rescue, relief and rehabilitation efforts.

But Garin said that the recommendation for areas to be placed under a state of calamity should be limited to those devastated by Paeng, pointing out that the proclamation follows “very specific criteria, and not all provinces will qualify.”

The country has available funds for national disasters, but Garin said that these should be used accordingly. “There should be a sense of urgency. Power, potable water, and access to roads should be restored but we need to be vigilant about deciphering needs versus wants.”

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration has advised authorities to prepare for storms in the last quarter of the year since these usually hit land and pass through central or southern Luzon, the Visayas, and Northern Mindanao, just like Paeng.

Pagasa expects two or three cyclones to enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility this month and another two in December.

RELATED STORY

Bongbong Marcos urged: Declare national state of calamity due to Paeng