Go: Duterte OKs calamity funds augmentation

President Rodrigo Duterte approved the recommendation to augment the calamity funds of local government units severely affected by the recent strong typhoons, Senator Christopher “Bong” Go said on Monday.

Go said the President had approved his previous proposal of providing additional local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund equivalent to 1% of the LGUs’ respective Internal Revenue Allotments.

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“Inaprubahan na rin ni Pangulong Duterte ‘yung direktiba na inapela ko noong mga nakaraang linggo—iyong ubos na ang calamity fund ng mga apektadong LGUs dahil sa pandemya,” Go said during a relief distribution in Marikina City on Monday.

(President Duterte has also approved the directive I appealed in recent weeks — the calamity fund of the affected LGUs has been depleted due to the pandemic.)

“Magbibigay ng 1% of the IRA ang national government para makatulong kaagad sa mga tinamaan ng bagyo,” he added.

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(The national government will provide 1% of the IRA to assist those affected by the typhoon immediately.)

Bong Go did not specify which LGUs will receive the additional calamity fund, but the victims of Typhoon Ulysses are from Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Bicol Region, Metro Manila, and Cordillera Administrative Region, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said.

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Duterte OKs calamity funds augmentation for affected LGUs

Go also expressed support for creating the inter-agency task force that would oversee the rehabilitation of areas devastated by the series of typhoons.

“More than simply rebuilding, we should build back better. Kasi kung ibabalik lang natin ang nakagawian, mauulit rin lang ang problema kapag may panibagong kalamidad na darating,” Go said.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) on Monday recommended declaring a state of calamity over the entire Luzon due to the extensive damages brought by the previous typhoons.

“It was approved during the meeting the recommendation for President Rodrigo Duterte to place under state of calamity the entire Luzon to address the impacts of the latest typhoons that hit the country,” NDRRMC executive director Undersecretary Ricardo Jalad said following the council’s emergency meeting.