CEBU, Feb.

24 (PIA) –- Local government units (LGUs) can now use 70

percent of calamity funds for disaster preparedness.

In a Stakeholders Forum held in Cebu City recently, Office of Civil Defense

(OCD) executive officer Ronald Flores revealed that one of the major
features of the new R.A. 10121, also known as the National Disaster Risk
Reduction Management (DRRM) law, is putting up the institutional
mechanisms that acknowledges the vital role of the local government units
(LGUs) as the first line of defense in disaster response, relief, rehab and
mitigation.

Flores said the new law provides funding for the entire DRRM program. It is
now known as the National DRM and Recovery Fund (formerly called the
National Calamity Fund) 70% of which can now be used for disaster risk
reduction or mitigation, prevention and preparedness activities.

“The 30% of the national DRM and recovery fund (NDRMRF) is a standby
fund for relief and recovery programs that will be called the Quick Response
Fund,” Flores added.

Funding at the local level will still come from the 5% of their respective
Internal Revenue Allotments (IRA) or the LGUs can come up with its own
budget for disaster management,” Flores said.

“While before RA10121 the LGUs are limited to use the calamity funds only
when disasters or emergency occur and they can only use it after its
declaration of a state of calamity, and the expenses are focused mainly on
response,” Flores explained.

The new law shifted its paradigm from a response-oriented fund to a

mitigation and preparedness orientation.

LGUs can now use 70% of their local DRM Recovery fund for disaster risk
reduction and prevention even without the LGUs declaring a ‘state of
calamity’ while the 30% as standby fund for quick response, relief, recovery
and rehab programs.
Any excess of the LGUs disaster/calamity funds will be carried over to the
next year as a special trust fund and will not be reverted to the national
treasury for the next five years.

“It actually means that the LGUs can now buy emergency and dredging
equipment, fund the training of rescue volunteers and equip them with tools
and facilities. This will greatly improve the capacities of LGUs to manage
and efficiently respond to disasters and or emergencies,” Flores went on.

The new law also provides for penalties to LGUs that do not or are unable to
pursue whatever are mandated for them to do and or how they will use their
calamity funds, the OCD executive officer said. (PIA-7/mbcn)