Cebu City’s P5 million aid to Luzon flood victims approved

DESPITE some reservations, the City Council yesterday approved the P5 million donation to victims of last month’s massive floods in Luzon.

Councilor Margot Osmeña, the council’s budget committee head, assured the council that there was still enough calamity funds to spend for the rest of the year.

Osmeña reported to the council in yesterday morning’s session the result of her committee’s review of the mayor’s request for the P5 million calamity fund allocation.

The city government has a P159 million calamity fund this year. Of the amount, 30 percent is set aside as a disaster quick response fund while the remaining 70 percent is for disaster management and preparation.

Osmena said that as of Aug. 2012, the city still has a balance of P22 million from its disaster quick response fund. Even if the P5 million assistance is released to flood affected LGUs in Luzon, the city will still have a balance of P17 million for its use until the end of the year.

Under the Disaster Risk Reduction Management Act, local government units can share the five percent calamity budget allocation to other LGUs that are declared under state of calamity if the local legislature of the donating LGU approves the assistance. /Chief of Reporters Doris C. Bongcac