ILOILO City – Confronted with the compounding impact of three tropical cyclones and intense southwest monsoon rains, Iloilo City is seeking a declaration of a state of calamity. Nearly 57,000 residents were displaced by widespread flooding and storm surges.
The City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CDRRMC), led by Mayor Raisa Treñas, unanimously approved the recommendation on Sunday, July 28, citing urgent humanitarian and rehabilitation needs.
The city has already transmitted the recommendation to the Sangguniang Panlungsod, which is expected to deliberate and act on it within the week.
“This is no longer just about isolated rain events,” said Treñas. “We are dealing with the compounded impacts of successive typhoons and prolonged monsoon rains, and our people need urgent support, particularly those living in flood-prone and coastal areas.”
According to the Iloilo City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO), tropical storms “Crising”, “Dante”, and “Emong”, along with the southwest monsoon, displaced a total of 56,881 individuals — 44,723 due to flooding and 12,158 due to storm surges.
This number of displaced people exceeds the 15-percent threshold of the city’s 240,304 residents, qualifying the city for calamity status under the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010.
The CDRRMC has also approved the immediate release of P31.5 million from the city’s Quick Response Fund (QRF) to fast-track aid and rehabilitation efforts. The fund includes:
* P20 million for site development in Barangay San Juan, Molo district where 200 permanent row houses will be built for evacuees;
* P10 million for a flood assessment and drainage master plan;
* P1.4 million for food assistance; and
* P100,000 for seed distribution to storm-affected farmers.
Mayor Treñas stressed that disaster recovery must go hand in hand with future preparedness.
“We are acting not just to address today’s emergencies, but to prepare our communities for the future,” she said. “The declaration will enable us to access necessary resources quickly, and more importantly, to rebuild smarter and stronger.”
To bolster the city’s resilience, the mayor said tabletop and field simulation exercises will be conducted to enhance coordination among disaster response clusters.
Once the state of calamity is formally declared, the city government can expedite procurement, provide emergency aid, and tap national assistance for displaced and affected residents./PN
