A week before Tropical Cyclone Pablo almost smashed the Province of Aklan on December 4-5, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan requested Gov. Carlito S. Marquez for the immediate creation of the Aklan Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (APDRRMC).
In Resolution No. 2012-322 sponsored by SP Member Raymar A. Rebaldo, the provincial legislative body has asked the provincial chief executive for the APDRRMC creation so that the provincial risk reduction and management system can be strengthened and subsequently institutionalize the provincial disaster risk reduction and management plan. The said resolution was passed during the 41st regular session on November 28, 2012.
The creation of the local disaster risk reduction and management office in every municipal and provincial government units in the Philippines is mandated by Republic Act No. 10121, otherwise known as the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction Management Act enacted into law on July 2010 yet and by its subsequent implementing rules and regulations.
In Aklan, Kalibo has permanently created the said office. The other 16 towns are yet to comply with the provisions of RA 10121.
In January 2011, the Aklan Sangguniang Panlalawigan has drafted an ordinance creating the said provincial office. Vice Gov. Gabrielle V. Calizo-Quimpo cautioned however the body that the move must come from the initiative of the provincial governor. Hence, the proposed enactment was shelved.
At present, the disaster risk reduction and management functions are entrusted to a very small unit under the office of the Provincial Governor. It is manned by people designated from the existing plantilla personnel of the executive office.
Section 6 of Rule 6 of RA 10121 IRR provides that local sanggunians shall enact the appropriate ordinance to create the disaster risk reduction management office to include the allocation of necessary structure, staff and budget.
The SP member-proponent in 2011 of the said draft ordinance emphasized that the creation of the said office poses no budgetary constraints as far as the statutory limitation on Personnel Services allocation of 45 percent from first to third class provinces is concerned. LGU Aklan then, in its budget, has total allocation for Personnel Services of about 39 percent of its total annual budget.
The 5 percent operational expenditures of the said office can be charged to the calamity fund of the province, the proponent pointed out. /MP
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