DILG-CAR’s Contribution to the Region’s Development

When Typhoon Ompong hit the Philippines in 2018, the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), with all the early warnings, could have not been more prepared, but the aftermath of the typhoon proved the region wrong.

Itogon, a municipality in Benguet, CAR, is one of the most hard hit LGUs when Typhoon Ompong made its landfall in the Philippines. And since its main source of income is mining, the soil’s condition got saturated due continous heavy rainfall.

Despite the area declared to be susceptible to danger, the LGU is finding ways to ensure the safety of its constituents by determining evacuation areas, where facilities and homes may be relocated.

For 2019, the Development Administration (DevAd) and Good Governance Sectoral Committee of the Regional Development Council closely coordinated with the Municipal Government of Itogon, concerned national line agencies, private instituions, and individuals to convene the Itogon Geological Evaluation Technical Working Group (TWG).

The TWG was tasked to ensure that the area of Itogon was assessed and evaluated to determine possible relocation sites for facilities and homes.

With success, the TWG conducted series of meetings and activities to resolve the issues and concerns in the area. The reality of the endeavor became more obvious, therefore, key persons and institutions were invited to plan what needs to be done. Funding for some of the activities was also resolved.

The TWG also determined the GPS coordinates in one of the proposed evacuation areas which shall aid in the preparation of a topographic map for thorough evaluation of the area. As DevAd Chair, DILG RD Marlo L. Iringan volunteered the services of the office’s engineers so work may proceed.

Additionally, RD Iringan requested DENR-MGB to prioritize the evaluation in the area of Itogon so that further reinforcement activites may be done before the rainy season comes.

The DevAd SeCom’s responsibility was only to convene the TWG. However, through its Chair, the committee went the extra mile to ensure that the tasks in aiding Itogon were carried out.

ONE STOP SHOP

The People’s Republic of China, through the Department of the Interior and Local Government who heads the regional Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (DRRMC) cluster on the management of the dead and the missing, donated PHP 46.6 million as financial assistance to the beneficiaries of TY Ompong casualties in the country.

Of the said amount, PHP41.8 million went to the Cordillera Administrative Region which has the most number of deaths at 114 during the onslaught of typhoon “Ompong” (Mangkhut) in September 2018.

To facilitate the release of funds to the beneficiaries, a One-Stop Shop was established to cater to the heirs of the victims. Below outlines the process for the One-Stop-Shop: