‘Budget for Taal calamity may not be enough’

MANILA, Philippines — House leaders admitted yesterday that additional funds could be needed to address needs in the relief and rehabilitation operations in areas affected by the eruption of Taal Volcano.

Despite the Palace’s pronouncement that there are sufficient funds to address the calamity, Deputy Speaker Mikee Romero said the P16-billion calamity fund also known as the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund (NDRRMF) that is part of the P4.1-trillion national budget for 2020 might not be enough for the Taal Volcano eruption and other rehabilitation efforts for previous disaster areas affected by past typhoons and other disasters.

“This Taal Volcano eruption is just the first of many disasters this year; P16 billion may not be enough until December. Many of the people affected in the Mindanao earthquakes and by the typhoons that struck Bicol, Eastern Visayas, Mindoro and Western Visayas have yet to rebuild their homes,” the 1-Pacman congressman said.

To address this possible shortfall in budget, Romero suggested the use of other emergency funds.

“The Department of Finance may have some more billions from the $500-million World Bank disaster resilience funds. Local government units also have their own calamity funds,” he said.

Romero also called on fellow lawmakers to convene a special session to authorize additional funding for disaster response measures and to also tackle the disaster resilience bills.

Congress is set to resume session next week after a month-long holiday break.

Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano explained that the P3.3 billion from the NDRRMF could be used for aid and relief and rehabilitation services to communities affected by the eruption and another P4.2 billion for repair and reconstruction of permanent structures, including capital expenditures for the Taal Volcano eruption.

But he admitted that not the entire P16-billion fund could be used for the Taal calamity alone as it is intended for all calamities nationwide for the entire year.

Cayetano bared that NDRRMF includes an allocation of P3.5 billion for Marawi recovery, rehabilitation and reconstruction program and another P5 billion for comprehensive aid to repair earthquake damage in Davao and Soccskargen regions.     

This means half of the NDRRMF is specifically allocated to Mindanao for previous calamities and only P7.5 billion can actually be used for calamities this year, including the ongoing Taal Volcano eruption.

Several lawmakers have pushed for the creation of a Department of Disaster Resilience (DDR) that will help Filipinos deal with all kinds of disasters as a result of climate change.

One of the proponents, Deputy Speaker Rep. LRay Villafuerte, said the DDR will be tasked to oversee and coordinate the preparation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of disaster and climate resilience plans, programs, projects and activities.  

“The DDR will help ensure that the country is on top of all climate change developments with residents who are safe and ready before, during and after the occurrence of a natural disaster,” the Camarines Sur representative explained in House Bill 398.

The proposal seeks to integrate the Climate Change Commission, National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, People’s Survival Fund, Yolanda Recovery and Rehabilitation Efforts and Office of the Presidential Assistant for Rehabilitation and Recovery under the DDR.   

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) and Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) will be attached to the DDR under the Villafuerte bill.   

Quezon City Rep. Precious Hipolito-Castelo, meantime, requested all government centers to “allow homeless and affected residents to seek shelter in those buildings to avoid effects of hazardous ashfall on their health.” 

Castelo said government centers including schools, city halls and other public facilities should be opened to provide shelter to residents affected by ashfall in Southern Tagalog. – With Delon Porcalla