By Panay News -Tuesday, March 2, 2021

BACOLOD City – Four areas in Negros Occidental’s 3rd District affected by the Jan. 1 and Jan. 8 flashfloods will be rehabilitated – Victorias City, E.B. Magalona town, Silay City, and Talisay City.

Cong. Francisco “Kiko” Benitez of the district recently hosted a small group meeting, bringing together the regional team of the Office of Civil Defense – Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (OCD – RDRRMC) headed by Director Jose Roberto Nuñez and the representatives of the four areas.

The convergence meeting focused on the requirements of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) to mobilize and allocate funds for immediate rehabilitation of damaged public works.

On Jan. 13, Benitez sought President Rodrigo Duterte’s help, specifically in mobilizing government resources for vital infrastructures hit by two successive flooding. He cited the report of the Department of Social Welfare and Development submitted to his office that 20,530 families were affected, and that agriculture and public infrastructures sustained significant damage.

Director Nuñez said the report, submitted to the Office of the President, was endorsed to the NDRRMC and the Regional DRRMC for validation.

The cities of Victorias, Silay and Talisay and the municipality of E.B. Magalona submitted to Benitez’s Congressional District Office a list of priorities for consideration.

The solon summarized the critical areas of concern – the need for rain gauges in monitoring and an early warning system; dredging of rivers and tributaries; slope protection, drainage master plan; repair of roads and bridges; identifying houses in disaster-prone areas, geo-tagging, relocation plan; comprehensive waste segregation and management plan; and massive reforestation in upland and midland areas, with attention to livelihood opportunities for families.

In mid-March, Benitez and the OCD will spearhead a Comprehensive Rehabilitation and Recovery Planning Workshop. The LGUs will finalize with concerned national agencies their priorities for rehabilitation.

Participants in the small group meeting included Provincial DRRM head Zeaphard Caelian, Victorias City’s Councilor Derek Palanca, Talisay City’s Executive Assistant Nicolai Jalandoni, National Housing Authority’s Provincial Manager Alejandro Ongsuco, the city/municipal DRRM officers of Victorias, E.B. Magalona, Silay and Talisay, and representatives from the Department of Public Works and Highways, Department of Interior and Local Government, and Department of Environment and Natural Resources./PN