Mt Province council okays P36.6 million DRRM budget

By Andrew Dogaong

BONTOC, Mountain Province -- The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) has approved the province’s 2017 disaster risk reduction and management annual investment plan.

PDRRM officer lawyer Edward Chumawar presented next year’s DRRM investment plan to the PDRRMC during the council’s 3rd quarter regular meeting presided by Gov. BonifacioLacwasan, Jr.

Chumawar said the DRRM investment plan has a total budget of P36.6 million, which is five percent of the estimated total revenues of the province next year.

Republic Act 101211 or the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010 mandates local government units to set aside not less than 5 percent of their revenues from regular sources for disaster risk reduction and management fund.

Of the P36.6M budget, 30% or P10.9M is allocated as quick response fund (QRF) or standby fund which could be used during disasters or calamities to fund rehabilitation and recovery programs.

Chumawar, however, said the QRF can only be utilized when the province is declared under state of calamity. He explained that if the QRF is not used within the current year, it can be reprogrammed for DRRM activities in the succeeding years.

He said the identified programs, projects and activities in the plan are needed in the Council’s continuing efforts of building a disaster-resilient and climate change-resilient province.

Of the four DRRM thematic areas, disaster prevention and mitigation programs are allotted P10.7M, disaster preparedness – P8.3M, disaster response – P12.2M and disaster recovery and rehabilitation – P6M.

Among the identified DRRM programs, projects and activities for next year include  research mapping and data base generation, improvement of radio communication network and development of multi-hazard emergency broadcast system; engineering and infrastructure interventions on identified risk areas; conduct of trainings on disaster preparedness and search and retrieval operations; stockpiling of emergency supplies;  purchase of road clearing equipment and emergency vehicles and equipment for road rapid road clearing operation of provincial roads during typhoons, rehabilitation and reconstruction of damaged infrastructure and evacuation centers, and quick response services.