ISABELA CITY, (PIA) – During its 3rd quarterly meeting, the Isabela City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CDRRMC) approved the utilization of Php13 million from the unexpended balances of the Special Trust Fund.
Uso Dan Salasim, the CDRRMO, presented these unexpended balances, which were originally intended for office use. The funds will now be allocated for the procurement and installation of additional CCTVs, river dredging, and the development of an exposure database.
Furthermore, Atty. Peter Eisma, the City Administrator, who chaired the meeting on behalf of Mayor Sitti Djalia Turabin-Hataman, led discussions on concerns related to the probability of La Niña. He emphasized the need for established protocols to protect schoolchildren, given La Niña’s 70% probability affecting the entire Isabela City, as indicated by data gathered by the CDRRMO in the first quarter of this year.
In addition, Paulo Rick Lataba of the Nagdilaab Foundation, Inc., a non-government organization based in Isabela City, proposed expanding the ACCESS project to other vulnerable areas in the city.
He highlighted ongoing activities in Barangay Kumalarang, noting that the project focuses on risk mitigation efforts.
ACCESS is funded by the European Union Humanitarian Aid through various NGOs and CSOs consortium members. Its principal objective is to address unmet humanitarian needs and reduce the suffering of the most vulnerable, at-risk, and underserved populations affected by armed conflict, violence, and natural hazards, climate, and environmental risks. (JPA/NDR/MWAP-PIA Basilan)
