City ascertains damages for rehabilitation plans

Mayor James “Bong” Gordon Jr. together with Olongapo First Lady and Zambales Vice-Governor Anne Marie Gordon held an urgent meeting with the department heads, representatives from the City Disaster Coordinating Council (CDCC), and with community and barangay leaders at the FMA Hall recently.

Mayor Gordon initiated the move to identify the areas affected by the floods and to discern the status of the residents who evacuated from their homes and the extent of damages to public and private properties brought about by the recent calamity.

Barangay leaders from Old Cabalan reported how the Disaster Management Office, together with barangay volunteers rescued residents from the floods while representatives from Barangay Sta. Rita, which was severely hit by the floods, accounted the scope of damages to their constituents such as loss of homes and destruction of other properties.

Based on the reports gathered in this meeting, Mayor Gordon tasked concerned departments such as CSWDO, DMO, PUD, Engineering, ESMO, CPDO to lead the city’s rehabilitation.

It can be recalled that the city declared a state of calamity last week after the barrage of monsoon rains in addition to high tide causing floods as high as 10 feet, leaving mounds of mud and destroyed properties in the city.

Meanwhile, Olongapo First Lady and Zambales Vice-Governor Anne Gordon led the additional relief-operation for the flood-stricken families at the Rizal Triangle Covered Court after the meeting.

Last Sept. 13, 2009, Mayor James ‘’Bong’’ Gordon, Jr. visited different flood-affected areas in the city to ascertain the damages to public and private properties caused by the recent disaster. Later, Mayor Gordon called for an emergency meeting with barangay leaders, City Disaster Coordinating Council and with the department heads of the city government to discuss the extent of damages and formulate corresponding rehabilitation strategies to address the crisis.

Pao/sara