The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction & Management Council of Negros Oriental is presenting a budget of P80 million for 2015.
Adrian Sedillo, PDRRMC executive officer, said the council adopted the estimated P80-million budget in a meeting last Wednesday, which represents five percent of the province’s executive annual budget for 2015.
The projected executive budget of Negros Oriental for 2015 is pegged around P1.6 billion and this could increase or decrease albeit insignificantly once it has been approved by the legislative and executive bodies, Sedillo said.
The DRRM fund, formerly known as the calamity fund of a local government unit covers at least four areas for allocation, namely, mitigation and prevention, preparedness, response and rehabilitation.
On mitigation and prevention, part of the DRRM fund shall be used for climate change and environmental protection programs, among others.
An example Sedillo cited is the P1-million footbridge in the hinterland sub-village of Payao-payaoan, Barangay Nagbinlod in Sta. Catalina, the construction of which was requested by the 79th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army.
That footbridge serves a dual purpose, which is to allow students easy access to their schools while it would also provide soldiers faster mobility in the implementation of the government’s Internal Peace and Security Plan, said Sedillo.
Disaster preparedness would include, among others, the conduct of trainings and seminars and purchase of heavy equipment as well as rescue equipment.
Meanwhile, 30 percent of the total P80-million DRRM fund, better known as the QRF (Quick Response Fund) is mandated for response activities during actual disaster operations, Sedillo said.
These would include activities such as the provision of food and temporary shelter to disaster victims, as well as the transfer of funds to other LGUs that are under a state of calamity, he added.
Finally, on rehabilitation, the DRRM fund sets aside a budget for the repair and restoration of basic infrastructure such as roads, foot bridges and dikes.
This year, the provincial government calendared P4 million for this purpose and the same amount is also set aside for next year, Sedillo said. (PNA)
