Pinol opposes move to declare Cotabato under state of calamity

KIDAPAWAN CITY (MindaNews / July 3) – North Cotabato Vice-Governor Manny Pinol has opposed the plan of declaring his province under state of calamity.

During the Cotabato Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC) meeting last Thursday, Pinol said there was no need to place North Cotabato under a state of calamity “as only few towns were affected by recent floods."

PPOC showed a report that the recent floods inundated villages of President Roxas, Alamada, Libungan, Tulunan, and other low-lying towns and hundreds of hectares planted to rice and corn were washed out by strong current of flood waters.

During the meeting, North Cotabato Governor and PPOC chairperson Jesus Sacdalan said the provincial government needed some cash to dole out as assistance to affected towns.

The cash would be taken from the province’s calamity fund.

But before funds would be released, it needed a resolution from the Sangguniang Panlalawigan.

The Sanggunian, however, has not passed a resolution that grants the release of calamity funds.

This was not the first time Pinol publicly stated his opposition to the plan of declaring the province under state of calamity. When flashfloods hit some towns in January, the provincial governor had asked the Sanggunian to declare the province under state of calamity, which was turned down by the Sanggunian.

“Why don’t the town officials affected by the natural disaster declare their area as under state of calamity, instead of the province declaring itself as under such condition?” Pinol asked.

Pinol said he was apprehensive there would be misuse of calamity funds.

But Sacdalan, during the meeting, assured Pinol and members of the Sanggunian money would be used appropriately. (Malu Cadelina Manar / MindaNews)