P31B calamity fund, inihirit ng Malacañang sa proposed 2024 National Budget

Isinusulong ng Marcos administration ang nasa 31 bilyong pisong calamity fund para sa 2024.

Sa isinumiteng National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund (NDRRMF) na bahagi ng proposed National Expenditure Program (NEP) para sa susunod na taon, lumalabas na mas mataas ng 51.2% ang calamity fund proposal kumpara sa kasalukuyang P20.5 billion appropriations.

P17.9 billion sa proposed calamity fund ay ilalaan para sa aid, relief at rehabilitation services sa mga komunidad at iba pang lugar na  naapektuhan ng kalamidad.

Nakapaloob din dito ang training sa mga personnel at iba pang pre-disaster activities.

Ilalaan naman ang nasa P13.05 billion para sa repair at rekonstruksiyon ng mga permanenteng istruktura, kabilang ang capital expenditures para sa pre-disaster operations, rehabilitation at iba pang kaugnay na aktibidad.

Hindi naman nakapaloob sa NDRRMF proposal ang line item para sa Marawi Siege Victims Compensation Fund dahil pinaglaanan na itong isang bilyong piso sa 2023 General Appropriations Act (GAA).

Ipinanukala din sa calamity fund ang halagang P7.425 billion Quick Response Fund (QRF) sa mga sumusunod na Departamento: Agriculture, Education, Health, Interior and Local Government, Bureau of Fire Protection, Philippine National Police, Department of National Defense, Office of Civil Defense, Department of Public Works and Highways, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Transportation-Philippine Coast Guard.

Proposed Quick Response Fund allocation per Agency

• Department of Agriculture (P1 billion, same as in 2023)
• Department of Education (P3 billion, up from P2 billion in 2023)
• Department of Health  (P500 million, same as in 2023)
• Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG)-Bureau of Fire Protection (P50 million, same as in 2023)
• DILG-Philippine National Police  (P50 million, same as in 2023)
• Department of National Defense-Office of Civil Defense  (P500 million, same as in 2023)
• Department of Public Works and Highways  (P1 billion, down from P11 billion in 2023)
• Department of Social Welfare and Development  (P1.25 billion, down from P1.75 billion in 2023)
• Department of Transportation-Philippine Coast Guard  (P75 million)

MADZ VILLAR MORATILLO