DISASTER SITUATION
The
Albay provincial legislative Sanggunian placed the province under a
“State of Calamity” after the El Niņo phenomenon wrought havoc on
some 6,000 hectares of agricultural land in more than half of the 15
towns and three cities of the province. This was a disaster
mitigating measure to curb the negative effects of the dry spell
that continues to hit most parts of the country. The dry spell
affected areas are the towns of Pioduran, Oas, Polangui, Jovellar
and Libon all in the third district of the province, Daraga in the
second district and the cities of Legazpi and Ligao, all of which
have been recommended to be placed under a “State of Calamity.”
The
United Nations Development Program (UNDP) hailed Albay’s Provincial
Disaster Coordinating Council (PDCC) for its handling of the recent
Mayon volcano eruption disaster preparedness and response strategy.
John English, Early Recovery Advisor, United Nations Coordination
Office, in his letter to Cedric Daep. Executive Director of the
Albay Public Safety Emergency and Management Office (APSEMO) said
the office was so impressed with the planning and coordination the
PDCC and provincial authorities had put into as pre-emptive response
to the potential Mayon eruption.
