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BAGUIO CITY: The City Council on Monday declared Baguio to be in a
state of calamity because of 47 landslides and damage to government
and private infrastructures and houses brought about by Typhoons
“Chedeng” and “Dodong.”
The City Council also asked the City Disaster
Coordinating Council to submit a comprehensive report on the extent
of the damage caused by the typhoons so the council will have a
proper basis for approving the release of calamity funds.
Peter Fianza, CDCC action officer and city
administrator, said on Monday that the declaration of a state of
calamity will hasten the release of funds for the immediate repair
of government infrastructures and for assistance to affected city
residents.
He said that the initial report submitted to the
CDCC revealed damage to government infrastructures alone to be more
than P500,000, while damage to private properties were still being
determined.
The Regional Office of Civil Defense reported
last week that two persons in Baguio died at the height of the
typhoons and three houses were partly damaged.
Fianza rejected opinions saying it’s too early
to declare a state of calamity in Baguio considering that more
typhoons are coming. He insisted that the declaration will ensure
the continued release of calamity funds.
--Harley Palangchao
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