Press Release
November 19, 2013

"Put more emphasis on disaster prevention and response capabilities of departments"
Nancy asks DBM, Congress to revise 2014 budget

Senator Nancy Binay asked the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) and Congress to work together to revise the proposed 2014 national budget to put more emphasis on the disaster prevention and response capabilities of executive departments and other front-line agencies.

"Super Typhoon Yolanda and other disasters which struck the country this year exposed the lack and the inability of the national government to immediately and easily respond to natural and man-made disasters and calamities," Binay said.

"Disasters are a plenty in the country and yet we are not boosting our capability to respond quickly and efficiently," she added.

Binay said that the DBM should ask the concerned government agencies to submit again their revised budgets with emphasis on the disaster prevention and response capabilities of the executive departments and front line agencies like the Departments of Health (DOH), Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Science and Technology (DOST), Education (DepEd), Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Transportation and Communication (DOTC), Interior and Local Government (DILG), National Housing Authority (NHA), Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP).

"The DOST and its agencies like the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) and Nationwide Operational Assessment of Hazards (NOAH) as well as the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) perform front line services like forecasting, mapping, monitoring and coordination capacities so there is a need to beef up their resources and capabilities to effectively forecast, respond and monitor disaster prevention and mitigation programs and activities," Binay said.

Congress, she added, can look for additional sources of funding for these beefing up of resources like the reallocation of the P25 billion allocated for the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) of the senators and congressmen, the lady solon said.

"Another source would be the reallocation of the President's Social Fund and other lump sum items in the proposed 2014 budget," Binay said.

Senate President Franklin Drilon earlier proposed that the DBM to revise the 2014 budget to include a proposed rehabilitation fund for calamity-stricken areas.

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