Paglaum Fund ups city calamity fund

ILOILO CITY – This southern city’s calamity fund of more than P46 million or 5 percent of the annual budget of P930 million this year is expected to increase by 10 percent in five years starting this year.

This was arrived at after the Senate Committee on Finance approved this week the P8 billion Paglaum Fund for rehabilitation of Typhoon Frank-affected areas in Western Visayas.

The Senate approval showed that “notwithstanding the provision of section 324 (d) of Republic Act 7160 or the Local Government Code of 1991, the budget of local government units covered under this act, for unforeseen expenditure arising from the occurrence of calamities shall be increased to 10 percent of the estimated revenue from regular sources. The said rate shall automatically revert to 5 percent as provided under RA 7160 after the expiration of the term of the Region 6 Rehabilitation and Development Commission.”

The city government is eyeing more equipment and tools for disaster management and preparedness as the whole city area is prone to flashfloods. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources has considered this city as a wide drainage system for surface water and river floods coming from upper areas in central Panay Island.

The city crisis center had been asking for additional equipment such as floaters, bancas, swimming gear, flashlights, ropes and others in search and rescue operations and appropriate vehicles in rehabilitation operations.

City mayor Jerry P. Treñas said he is planning to buy fiberglass boats for the use of the rescue volunteers as the city is preparing for the influx of more typhoons this season.

Treñas said the crisis center is scheduling a comprehensive disaster preparedness seminar and bulk of volunteers must come from the barangay residents themselves. The districts of Jaro, some parts of La Paz and Manduriao are flashflood prone areas.

By Lydia C. Pendon