By: Lottie Salarda, InterAksyon.com
June 1, 2016 12:30 PM
BILIRAN PROVINCE – About 90 percent of the barangays in the province of Biliran are prone to flashfloods because almost all towns have a river like Caibiran and Naval, prompting the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Officer of Biliran to prepare for the impact of La Nina.
According to PDRRMO Sofronio B. Dacillo Jr., his office has informed all the barangays in the seven municipalities in Biliran about the effects of La Nina since February.
In preparation, three evacuation centers, each able to accommodate 200 people, have been completed in the municipalities of Cabucgayan, Biliran, and Calvara.
“Handa naman kami sa kalamidad, kaya lang depende pa iyon sa magnitude ng disaster,” says Dacillo.
The other day, the European Union and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), through EU Ambassador Franz Jessen and UNDP Philippines Country Director Titon Mitra, led the turn-over ceremony of the community evacuation centers to local government units to the municipalities of Cabucgayan and Biliran in Biliran province.
In his message, Jessen said he was happy that the construction of the emergency shelters came with the strong involvement of the community.
In July, five of the 11 evacuation centers donated by the EU through the UNDP will be completed.
Aside from the evacuation centers, the EU also donated 55 housing units in Tacloban City, 55 in Hernani, and 55 in Ormoc City.
The UNDP’s recovery projects were funded by the European Union with about 9.7 million euro (508 million pesos) to be implemented until July this year.
“More than two years after Yolanda happened, we commend the Philippine government on the remarkable and impressive progress in its recovery and rehabilitation efforts,” Ambassador Jessen said.
“The EU values its strong partnership with the Philippine government, both at the national and local levels, and with UNDP particularly in helping disaster-affected communities get back on their feet,” he added.
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