P21.7B set aside for disaster risk reduction

The government will spend P21.7 billion this year to roll out climate change mitigation and disaster risk reduction projects, according to the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).

In a statement Friday, the DBM noted that since Supertyphoon “Yolanda” flattened central Philippines in 2013, the government had put in place a “preventive approach” in dealing with natural calamities and climate change.

The massive destruction wreaked by Yolanda “was a wake-up call for all of us,” said Budget Secretary Florencio B. Abad said. “The country needed an approach that would be rooted in prevention and preparedness, rather than on ad-hoc responses.”

Under its “build back better” strategy, the government for this year allocated P14 billion to the national disaster risk reduction and management fund, formerly known as the calamity fund.

Also earmarked under the 2015 national budget were P6.7 billion for the quick response funds of key agencies, as well as P1 billion for the rehabilitation and reconstruction program fund.

“The policy of ‘building back better’ will ensure stronger infrastructure systems and better opportunities for survivors of various calamities. But the groundwork for any government response needs to be laid down before these disasters happen. Ultimately, the administration’s main goal is to prepare for, and effectively preempt, these disasters,” Abad said.

The DBM said the government had also established a risk resiliency program, under which various environmental projects were to be funded.

Among the projects were the Department of Public Works and Highways’ P47.3-billion flood control infrastructure project that would cover 18 major river basins and areas below sea level, as well as the Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ P7.02-billion national greening program, where 225 million seedlings would be allotted for over 300,000 hectares of land.