Roxas bares new funding plan to fight El Niño

MANILA, Philippines—Interior Secretary Mar Roxas has advised provincial governors and town and city mayors to use funds available from the national government to bankroll infrastructure projects in order to mitigate any drought or floods that may be brought on by the El Niño phenomenon.

Interior Secretary Mar Roxas. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

Roxas, who inspected government projects in Isabela financed by the Seal of Good Local Governance-Performance Challenge Fund, was referring to a new program that grants more funds to local governments that pass standards of financial transparency and good governance. Local chief executives may access these funds through what is called the Grassroots Participatory Budgeting Process (GPBP).

Projects that mitigate the effects of climate change on farmers were a strong focus of the funding program, said Roxas, who is also vice chair of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.

The GPBP can give  municipalities up to P15 million to finance projects identified and approved by the local government together with representatives of community and people’s organizations.

City governments, on the other hand, may request as much as P50 million under the program.

The drought and sweltering heat brought about by the dry spell have alarmed national government agencies as water levels in dams near critical levels, affecting sources of potable water, irrigation systems and even power.

The erratic climate is linked to the El Niño phenomenon or the rise in temperatures in the Pacific Ocean.

“Heavy rains and dry spells will be the norm in this era of harsh, erratic climate due to global warming,” Roxas said in an e-mailed statement.

“It is thus vital that we take the necessary measures to prepare and protect our people, especially the marginal farmers,” he added.

The interior secretary said local government units should build “water-impounding facilities” or reservoirs in their areas in time for the onset of the rainy season.

“The water impounded during the rainy season will be released gradually in summer for the irrigation needs of small farmers,” he said, noting that such infrastructure could also help prevent flash floods.