Ifugao Gov issues rules on utilization of calamity funds

By Dan B. Codamon

LAGAWE, Ifugao -- With the declaration of Ifugao in a state of calamity by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan due to typhoon “Pedring,” Gov. Eugene Balitang issued guidelines in the utilization of the 30% Calamity Fund or now called Quick Response Fund (QRF) amounting to P6,868,635.000.

This was contained in Provincial Budget Memorandum No. 2011-04 dated Oct. 3.

The guidelines provided ceiling on the use of the QRF which are: P100,000 for fuel, oil, gasoline or diesel for monitoring, search and rescue and other relief operations of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council and P100,000.00 for meals and snacks at the of the PDRRMC Center when it is open during actual calamity situations including meals and snacks of volunteers fielded for search and rescue operations, traffic monitoring and other related-activities.

The amount of P300,000 was for materials and supplies, freight, hiring of services and other expenses during actual calamity situations;P150,000.00 for burial and medical assistance for calamity victims including immediate assistance for damaged shelters and P300,000 for fuel, oil, gasoline or diesel for provincial local government heavy equipments or private equipments used for clearing, rehabilitation and restoration works on account of actual calamity.

The bulk of P5,000,000 was for rehabilitation, restoration or corrective works on damaged portions of all provincial roads and bridges as proposed by the Office of the Provincial Engineer, and P1,000,000.00 for rehabilitation, restoration or corrective works on vital infrastructures such as farm-to-market roads, communal irrigation system, school buildings and others.

Balitang also stated that the program, projects and activities to be funded under the amount allotted for the rehabilitation or restoration of provincial roads and other vital infrastructures shall be based on the program of work and detailed cost estimates that would be submitted by the Provincial Engineer and that the actual projects to be funded are those that would be recommended by the provincial engineer as “urgent” or those that need to be addressed immediately to prevent further damage or to prevent loss of life or limb.

A separate budget memo will be issued by the governor for the funding of these specific programs, projects and activities relative to these rehabilitation or restoration works on provincial roads and other vital infrastructures.

SP Resolution No. 2011-281 declared Ifugao in a state of calamity after typhoon “Pedring” badly battered the province last week of September.