The provincial government of Antique is mulling the possibility of declaring a state of calamity once its two hardest-hit municipalities have submitted their reports.
The provincial board is just waiting for the updates from the municipalities of Anini-y and Tobias Fornier, Vice Governor Edgar Denosta said in an interview Tuesday.
“We still have a Quick Response Fund (QRF) that could be used in order to respond to the needs of the affected families,” he said. “The QRF is still available and could be used even if we are already toward the end of the year.”
The province still has about PHP30 million QRF out of its PHP100 million Disaster Risk Reduction and Management fund for 2021.
He also urged affected families to report to their local government units (LGUs) the damage they incurred to be included in the report.
“There is still a problem in the communication transmission that it would be better if the affected families themselves report to their LGUs through their Municipal Social Welfare and Development Officers (MSWDOs),” he said.
A road-clearing operation was conducted in Anini-y following the launching of the “Buylog Dagyaw Operation” on Tuesday, led by the Antique Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO), Philippine National Police, Philippine Army, Philippine Coast Guard, Department of Public Works and Highways, and other government agencies.
“We have received shelter repair kits, hygiene kits, blankets and family packs from the Office of Civil Defense (OCD), which we will give to Anini-y,” PDRRMO head Broderick Train said.
Donations in kind were also sent by the municipalities of Valderrama, Sebaste, Culasi, Laua-an, and Bugasong in the northern part of the province.
The Regional Office of the OCD likewise sent 450 shelter repair kits, 300 hygiene kits, 300 blankets, and 80 family packs.
Source: Philippines News Agency
