Surigao City Disaster Coordinating Council to recommend to Sangguniang Panlungsod to place city under state of calamity

BUTUAN CITY (15 January) – The Surigao City Disaster Coordinating Council will recommend to Sangguniang Panlungsod to place the city under state of calamity.

This was reported by Surigao City Mayor Alfonso Casurra in a phone-patch interview this morning with dxBR-Bombo Radyo-Butuan.

According to Mayor Casurra, during the meeting conducted yesterday (January 14), members of the City Disaster Coordinating Council of Surigao City filed a resolution to recommend to Sangguninag Panlungsod to place the city under state of calamity.

Mayor Casurra added that during the SP session this afternoon, the said resolution will be submitted. However, Casurra said, Sangguniang Panlungsod assured him that the said resolution will be approved.

As to the damage brought by continuous heavy rains and wind which started Saturday evening (January 10), Casurra said, the city and the province of Surigao del Norte experienced more damages in agricultural aspect. He said majority of its rice fields were flooded. “What is sad here is that, majority of the farmers have just planted the crops last November”, he said.

Meanwhile, Casurra said, as of press time, sea vessels from main land Surigao City are prohibited to travel to different islands of the province of Surigao del Norte due to strong wind and waves.

With this, Cassura added that the city and provincial governments are requesting the Philippine Army for the use of its chopper to bring foods and other basic commodities to 21 barangay-islands of the province.

“Many passengers are also stranded at the Lipata Port as of this morning since owners of RORO vessels were advised to cancel their operation”, he said.

“As soon as the city will be placed under state of calamity, we can immediately use the calamity fund so that we can immediately purchase grains to replace the crops that were damaged”, Mayor Casurra disclosed. (Robert E. Roperos, PIA-Caraga)

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