Mayor Neil Lizares convenes the Talisay City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CDRRMC) in an urgent response to the calamity brought by the flash flood that hit several barangays by surprise in the wee hours following last New Year's Eve countdown.

With report of zero-casualty to human lives, top priority in the meeting include the continued rationing of food packs to the 4,661 affected families in 17 barangays, with financial aid to be given to the victims of 21 totally and 244 partially destroyed homes for rebuilding. Mayor also signed a resolution recommending to the Sangguniang Panlungsod the declaration of a state of calamity in the City of Talisay.

The CDRRMC also recommended medium to long term solutions to mitigate the flooding problem starting with a meeting this week between the City Planning and Development Office and the Department of Public Works and Highways for dredging work to be done on the City's 2 main river systems and waterways, and another meeting between the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office and the Office of Civil Defense for donation of equipment and a plans of having a command center. Furthermore, the inventory and future relocation of informal settlers residing under bridges, livelihood projects to the affected families, revisiting of the City's Drainage Plan and the regreening of Talisay was also tackled.

With aid continue pouring in, Mayor Lizares would like to thank the first to respond including the Offices of Metro Third Congressman Kiko Benitez, the Provincial Government with Gov. Bong Lacson and the Department of Social Welfare and Development- Field Office 6.

In particular, Mayor Neil wish to thank Congs. Kiko and Albee Benitez who took their time out to extend help and personally inspect and assess the damage done in the worse-hit barangays of Zone 3, 2 and Sweet Centre.

'Our City has invested a lot on natural disaster preparedness, we are reaping the fruits of the hard work that we have sown. But more work is ahead of us in our effort to protect the environment which results to saving lives and property,' Mayor Neil reminds all Talisaynons.