PDP-LABAN senatorial candidate Atty. Francis Tolentino asked El Niño-stricken local government units to declare a state of calamity in their respective areas of jurisdiction as he emphasized the need for communities to prepare for the long dry spell in order to mitigate the impacts of the dry spell in the lives and livelihoods of people.
According to Tolentino, a chain reaction is surely to occur with the onset of the dry spell. Agriculture, hence food supply, will surely be affected.
Tolentino, who was President Rodrigo Duterte’s political adviser and main man for disaster response operations, said: “Local government units severely affected by the El Niño phenomenon should declare a state of calamity in order to address the challenges posed by this drought, particularly to agriculture.”
“Response actions to calamities such as this dry spell should be swift, as the lives of the people are at stake. That is why I have proposed for an increase in the calamity fund for local government units as a means to empower them especially during crises situations.” he said.
Tolentino said prices of commodities and basic utilities such as water and electricity are similarly expected to rise. Health costs are foreseen to escalate as well with increased cases of heat-related diseases such as heat stroke and those related to poor water supply such as cholera and diarrhea.
Given the chance to take a seat at the Senate, he said: “I will prioritize the passing of a bill to effect local government empowerment in order to ensure that they are able to provide local solutions to our national problems.” (Mindanao Examiner)
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