‘Agaton’-hit Capiz placed under state of calamity

By Felipe V. Celino

ROXAS CITY, Capiz – After a long deliberation, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) placed the province of Capiz under a state of calamity in the aftermath of tropical depression Agaton.

The declaration was unanimously approved by all SP members present during its session on Tuesday, April 19, that ended at around 7:30 p.m.

The board members who approved the resolution were Jonathan Besa, Thea Faith Reyes, Enrique Martin, Weldie Apolinario, Elmer Arevalo, Querubin Pamplona, Mitchell John Patricio, Renzo Teves and Victor Tanco, Jr.

The declaration now allows the provincial government to use its calamity funds amounting to P10,000,000 to help around 35,000 families affected by “Agaton” last week.

The province has allocated around P98 million in calamity funds for 2022.

Because of the ban on the release of public funds and resources during the election period, the Philippine Red Cross was authorized to distribute the assistance.

Nineteen persons died while another remains missing after “Agaton” flooded Capiz last week.

Capiz Gov. Esteban Evan Nonoy Contreras said that aside from the fatalities, the province lost P170 million in the agriculture sector and P39 million in infrastructures.

The figures are based on the initial assessment by the provincial agriculture’s office and provincial engineer’s office, respectively.

The provincial board called for a special session on Monday, April 18, to act on the request of Contreras regarding the declaration.

But the session was suspended after resource speakers from the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office, Provincial Engineers Office, and Provincial Agriculture Office failed to submit the data sought by the board members.

Nine local governments in Capiz have already declared a state of calamity in the aftermath of “Agaton”:

1. Cuartero
2. Sigma
3. Panitan
4. Tapaz
5. Dao
6. Pilar
7. Maayon
8. Mambusao
9. Dumarao
10. Roxas City