PDRRMO seeks P130M hike for 2016 budget

CEBU, Philippines – The Cebu Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) is raising its budget from this year’s P121 million to P130 million next year.

The PDRRMO, as well as other offices under the executive department, will be presenting the proposed adjustment during a budget hearing today.

Julius Regner, PDRRMO information officer, explained that there is a need to increase the amount so as to fund the creation of the province’s contingency plan and mitigation measures, especially for the prevailing El Niño phenomenon which was predicted by PAGASA to persist until next year.

In fact, he said, the province is eyeing to extend the period of the province-wide state of calamity declaration as part of its preparation forpossible worsening effect of the phenomenon.

The declaration of a state of calamity allows an LGU to tap its calamity funds and utilize them for emergency purchases and responses.

“Sa mitigation, naa tay giplanuhan abangan, like water drums,” Regner said, adding that the province’s distribution of assistance to affected areas is still ongoing.

In May, the Cebu Provincial Board placed the entire province under a state of calamity, which remains in effect until November.

As earlier reported by the Provincial Budget Office, the province has around P4 million left in its coffer that can be utilized for the El Niño this year.

Of the proposed 2016 budget, 70 percent of the total amount or about P91 million will be earmarked for disaster preparedness programs while the remaining 30 percent or P39 million will be allocated as quick response fund.

The allocation is also based on Republic Act 10121 or the Philippine DRRM Act of 2010, which mandates local government units to set aside at least five percent of their Internal Revenue Allotment Fund for the DRRM fund.

Danilo Rodas, provincial budget officer, told The FREEMAN that the Cebu province has P2.5 billion IRA share for 2016, which is higher from this year’s P2.3 billion. —/VLA (FREEMAN)