Gov’t urged to utilize funds for disaster relief immediately, efficiently
MANILA, Dec. 29 (PNA) — With around PHP4.963 billion worth of funds left under the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) for 2016, a senator on Thursday urged the government to put these funds to quick and good use for rehabilitation efforts in wake of typhoon “Nina” (Nock Ten).
“The government still has funds for 2016 which will still be carried over to 2017 and we also have a new NDRRMC Fund appropriation for 2017,” Sen. Loren Legarda, chair of the Senate Committees on Finance and Climate Change said.
Legarda said that the NDRRMC Fund amounts to PHP15.755 billion for 2017.
“We urge the concerned agencies to utilize these resources immediately and efficiently. We do not want the affected population to suffer more when the government has the resources to alleviate their suffering now,” she added.
The senator meanwhile lauded how the level of disaster preparedness in the country from forecasting, to early warning and consistent advisories, to prepositioning of goods, to forced evacuation of families in high-risk areas has improved.
“All concerned agencies were prepared and were on standby even during Christmas. The quick response following the typhoon’s devastation was very important as well,” Legarda said.
She said that it is “unfortunate” that there were still casualties but pointed out that they are fewer considering the magnitude of devastation caused by the typhoon.
“These disaster preparedness measures and quick response will allow the government to swiftly shift from response and relief to recovery and rehabilitation,” Legarda said.
She meanwhile expressed hope that recovery would also come as quickly as relief and response.
“With the way things went before the typhoon and the way things are going now at the response and relief stage, we are optimistic that the government will also act swiftly to ensure the quick recovery of communities affected by Typhoon Nina,” she added. (PNA)
