BAGUIO CITY — Officials from the Cordillera Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (CDRRMC) and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) are calling on local government units (LGUs) in the region to fully utilize their calamity funds to enhance resilience against disasters.
According to Philippines News Agency, the calamity fund, which accounts for 5 percent of an LGU’s annual budget, plays a critical role in bolstering localities’ ability to prevent, mitigate, and respond to disasters. Data from the Bureau of Local Government Finance (BLGF) in the Cordillera shows that in 2023, the region had a total disaster risk reduction and management (DRRM) fund of PHP1.31 billion. However, only PHP634.39 million of this was utilized.
The BLGF report indicates that 70 percent of the fund, approximately PHP944.99 million, was earmarked for disaster prevention, mitigation, preparedness, response, rehabilitation, and recovery, while 30 percent, or PHP368.8 million, was allocated for quick response efforts. The actual spending amounted to PHP501.45 million for prevention and mitigation and PHP132.94 million for quick response.
The BLGF has recommended that LGUs develop strategies to expedite fund disbursement, particularly for quick response activities, and to use remaining funds from previous years for long-term resilience projects.