MANILA, Philippines — Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto filed Monday a bill seeking the creation of a commission that would focus on addressing the needs of communities affected by the Taal Volcano eruption.
Senate Bill No. 1275 seeks to “hasten the recovery and sustain the economic development of communities affected by the eruption of Taal Volcano.”
“I have also filed a bill, for consideration of the administration, establishing the Taal Reconstruction Commission so that rehabilitation is done in an organized, programmed, predictable, transparent, inter-agency manner, with the robust participation of local governments, civil society, and the private sector,” Recto said in his privilege speech during Senate’s session Monday afternoon.
“Why do we have to prepare early? Because we do not wait for our neighbor’s house to be on fire before we post bidding notices for a water hose,” he added.
Citing figures from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), the bill noted that the eruption has affected over 50,000 families or more than 200,000 individuals.
It has caused power interruption in 20 cities and municipalities, forced 264 local government units to suspend classes and paralyzed operations in some of the country’s airports, the measure added.
“NDRRMC also reported that the eruption affected thousands of hectares of agricultural lands and fishing areas, primarily in the province of Batangas, which caused an estimated P3 billion pesos’ worth of agricultural damage incurred by farmers. livestock raisers and fishermen,” the bill’s explanatory note further read.
“These losses, however, only foreshadow the economic and financial costs of the eruption, particularly in terms of local tourism losses; reconstruction and rehabilitation requirements; and healthcare, evacuation and relief operations costs, which is expected to reach tens of billions of pesos,” it added.
The measure also seeks the establishment of a Taal Volcano Rehabilitation and Development Fund, which allocates P50 billion “to provide immediate relief to affected communities individuals and families; establish resettlement centers, homesites, and townsites for displaced families; provide livelihood and employment opportunities for local residents.”
The amount will fund the construction, repair, and rehabilitation of public infrastructure needed in the affected communities.
The bill would allow Congress to increase this amount through a supplemental budget or through the annual general appropriations.