SEN. GUINGONA PROPOSES FOR SOLIDARITY FUND FOR DISASTERS
SBN 1087 sets to establish fund for LGUs to be used in times of calamities

Senator Teofisto "TG" Guingona has filed a bill creating a Solidarity Fund for local government units for disaster response and recovery.

Under SB No. 1087, all Local Government Units will be mandated to contribute 0.5 percent of their total revenues taken from the Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund (LDRRMF) other than the amount set aside for the quick response fund. The Solidarity Fund will be held as a trust account in a government bank. Disbursement will be subject to the issuance of a release order of the supervisory board.

"This bill will establish the Solidarity Fund as a second layer of the Quick Response Fund. In the event of a disaster, calamity, epidemic or complex emergency, the Quick Response fund is the first fund to be depleted. There is an urgent need therefore for a second layer that LGUs can draw from," Sen. Guingona said.

The Solidarity Fund will be held as a trust account in a government bank. Disbursement will be subject to the issuance of a release order of the supervisory board.

The Supervisory Board shall be composed of the DILG secretary, representatives from the Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines, League of Provinces, League of Cities, League of Municipalities, and Liga ng mga Barangay.

"Our LGUs must be made resilient against disasters. We are hit by typhoons and other natural calamities almost all year round. While we cannot control nature, we can mitigate its devastating effects by preparing steadfastly and rebuilding almost instantly," Sen. Guingona added.

An LGU who availed of the solidarity fund shall contribute one percent of their LDRRMF for the next year. The LGU shall revert to the 0.5 percent contribution if it did not avail of the solidarity fund for the previous year.

"The typhoon season is upon us. We can ill afford to be caught unaware especially if it will cost us gains that our LGUs have worked so hard to achieve. It is high time we strengthen institutional mechanisms for the reduction of disaster risks and enhance preparedness and response capabilities of our LGUs," Sen. Guingona said.