The Zamboanga City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (ZCDRRMC) chaired by Mayor John Dalipe has passed a resolution, recommending the closure of the night market at Pettit Barracks due to the nightly influx of bats on the old acacia trees in the area.
City Health Officer Dr. Dulce Amor Miravite authored the resolution during the ZCDRRMC’s first quarter meeting on Thursday, Feb. 15, at the CDRRMO Conference Room.
Miravite filed the motion after City Veterinarian Dr. Mario Arriola raised some health concerns over the bats invasion on the acacia trees at Pettit Barracks from nightfall to late at dawn.
“We never know if these bats are carrying a disease, knowing the persistent threat of avian or bird flu,” Dr. Arriola manifested to the ZCDRRMC.
Thus, as a precautionary measure, the body approved to recommend the closure of the night market at Pettit Barracks, particularly the food stalls, subject to the mayor’s approval and concurrence of the Sangguniang Panlungsod.
Also discussed were numerous measures aimed at efficiently mitigating the impacts of the El Niño phenomenon on the city’s agriculture and fishery sector, electricity and water supplies.
This developed as the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) has warned that Zamboanga City and the rest of the peninsula will continue to experience the abnormal dry weather condition until the month of March that could extend up to May before it will transition to near normal rainfall condition in June or July, this year.
The ZCDRRMC likewise approved the funding requirements for the El Niño mitigating measures.
Specifically, the CDRRMO headed by Dr. Elmeir Apolinario urged the City Engineer’s Office to fast track the river siltation project with an appropriation of P115 million; P10 million for prepositioning of TAGS; P4.5 million for the purchase of seeds, fertilizers, pesticides and rodenticides; and the purchase of 115 water pumps, among others.
Dalipe convened the ZCDRRMC members to deliberate on priority DRRM projects designed to enhance preparedness, primarily to mitigate the impacts of extreme weather conditions and other calamitous events. (Vic Larato, photo courtesy by Kathy Wee Sit)
(Source: City Government of Zamboanga FB Page)