CONGRESS has allocated an additional P500 million to the Calamity Fund to bolster the country’s disaster preparedness and long-term climate resilience, Quezon City Rep. Marvin Rillo, a member of the House committee on appropriations, announced on Sunday.
“In the 2025 General Appropriations Law, we earmarked P21 billion for the Calamity Fund. This is P500 million more than the P20.5 billion allocated in 2024,” Rillo said.
“Our goal is to ensure that government agencies are well-equipped to respond to disasters, enabling faster recovery and continuity of essential services,” he added.
Rillo outlined the distribution of the P21 billion Calamity Fund, also known as the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund:
·P10.7 billion for aid, relief, and rehabilitation services in calamity-affected communities, including the training of personnel and other pre-disaster activities.
·P9.3 billion in capital outlays, primarily for the repair and reconstruction of damaged permanent structures.
·P1 billion for the People’s Survival Fund, supporting adaptation projects and initiatives led by local government units and community organizations.
Additionally, Rillo detailed the 2025 Quick Response Fund (QRF) allocations for various government agencies to support disaster operations and rehabilitation efforts:
·Department of Education – P3 billion
·Department of Social Welfare and Development – P1.25 billion
·Department of Agriculture – P1 billion
·Department of Public Works and Highways – P1 billion
·Department of Health – P500 million
·Department of National Defense-Office of Civil Defense – P500 million
·National Irrigation Administration – P300 million
·Department of Transportation-Philippine Coast Guard – P75 million
·Department of the Interior and Local Government – P50 million each for the Philippine National Police and the Bureau of Fire Protection
According to the World Risk Index 2024, the Philippines ranks as the world’s most disaster-prone country.
Situated in the northwestern Pacific Ocean’s typhoon belt, the Philippines experiences an average of 20 storms annually.
The Philippines also sits along the Pacific Ring of Fire, making it highly vulnerable to volcanic eruptions and earthquakes.
The other countries ranked second to tenth in global risk index include Indonesia, India, Colombia, Mexico, Myanmar, Mozambique, Russia, Bangladesh, and Pakistan.
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