2007 budget provides for fund to
rehabilitate calamity areas, says Drilon

Senate Finance Committee Chairman Franklin M. Drilon today announced that the Bicameral Conference Committee has agreed to incorporate in the proposed P1.126 trillion national budget for this year a total of P10 billion for the rehabilitation of areas in the country badly affected by typhoons.

"The 2007 national budget, once signed into law, will provide for funds badly needed by our countrymen, especially in the Bicol Region, who suffered the misfortunes brought about by the series of massive typhoons," Drilon, who is also Liberal Party president, said.

The Calamity Assistance and Rehabilitation Effort (CARE) of Areas Affected by Typhoons Milenyo, Paeng, Reming and Seniang Fund will have an P8 billion allocation under the 2007 national budget. An additional P2 billion under the budget of the Department of Education will be earmarked to prioritize the repair and construction of school buildings in the Bicol Region which were damaged by the typhoons, Drilon noted.

Under the budget bill, P500 million will be allocated to the Department of Agriculture for livelihood programs of farmers whose lands and crops were devastated by the typhoon, he added.

"It is crucial that we support the rehabilitation program of areas badly affected by the super typhoons in order that our people will be given the fastest time to recover and start anew," Drilon said.

The provision provided for the rehabilitation fund distributed in the budgets of the different agencies of government-- P500 million for the repair of irrigation systems (National Irrigation Authority); P500 million as support to affected agrarian reform communities (Department of Agrarian Reform); P500 million for the rehabilitation of electrification infrastructure (Department of Energy); and P400 million for repair and rehabilitation of school buildings (State Universities and Colleges).

Moreover, P300 million will be allocated for the repair of public hospitals (Department of Health); P2 billion for repair and rehabilitation of roads, bridges, government buildings and other infrastructures (Department of Public Works and Highways); P750 million for livelihood projects such as Cash for Work Livelihood Programs (Department of Social Work and Development); P750 million for the purchase of relocation sites and construction of housing units (National Housing Authority).

"P1.3 billion will be allocated to the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) and P500 million to local government units for the repair of rural health units and hospitals and to fund rehabilitation programs," Drilon said.

Four typhoonsMilenyo, Paeng, Reming, and Senianghave struck the country from September to December 2006, causing 942 deaths with 2,838 injured people and 850 missing. Nearly 440,000 people were displaced, according to the report of the NDCC. A report of the United Nations revealed that the four typhoons affected almost eight million people in 62 of the country's 79 provinces. Throughout the affected areas, 512,000 homes were destroyed and a further 711,000 partially damaged with an economic cost of around $335 million. Infrastructure, agriculture crops, and schools have been damaged or destroyed with losses estimated at $308 million.