P20 B allocated for disasters, climate change management

MANILA, Philippines—The Aquino administration has allocated P20 billion for protection from calamities and the effects of climate change in this year’s national budget, Budget Secretary Florencio Abad said on Thursday.

Disaster preparation activities under the 2012 budget include flood control projects under the Department of Public Works and Highways.

Abad said the DPWH, which will receive P12.3 billion for the construction of a total of 8,000 meters of flood barriers on major rivers nationwide.

Abad added that the Calamity Fund would be P7.5 billion in 2012, an increase of 50 percent from the P5-billion allocation in 2011.

Out of this fund, P4.85 billion will be used to repair and reconstruct permanent structures across the country, while P2.65 billion will be used for aid, relief, and rehabilitations services to calamity-stricken areas.

A total of P367 million—100.5 percent higher than in the 2011 budget—will be directed to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration for its weather forecasting system.

Abad said other pre-disaster measures include solid waste management initiatives under the Metro Manila Development Authority, as well as rehabilitation projects for Laguna de Bay and the Pasig River.