Capitol earmarks P98M for disasters

The Cebu provincial government has set aside P98,639,000 for disaster risk reduction management.

The amount is 5 percent of the Capitol’s annual income.

Provincial Budget Officer Emme Gingoyon said it was earlier agreed by Capitol officials that the amount is based on the present 2012 annual budget subject to change when the 2013 appropriation ordinance is approved.

The Capitol has allocated about P30 million of the DRR fund for relief and recovery operations.

Another P40 million is for financial support to other local government units under a state of calamity while P26 million is for pre-disaster activities and P1.7 million for post-disaster activities.

The remaining P939,000 is set aside for the operation of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management office.

The office handles administrative functions, training, research and planning operations; and early warning and coordination of the provincial council.

The council has yet to hire a provincial DRR officer and three support personnel.

For now the office is being run by the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office under Marivic Garces.

Instead of setting up a calamity fund under the Local Government Code, 30 percent of the DRRM fund will be spent for disaster relief and response.

The other 70 percent should be used for disaster preparedness and mitigation under the as required by the Disaster Risk Reduction Management Act or Republic Act 10121.

Provincial Ordinance 2012-03 also created the the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council of Cebu.