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House Committee approves P10 B supplemental calamity fund
11 October 2009 02:11:00 PM
Writer: Gil Bugaoisan

Speaker Prospero C. Nograles today announced that the House Committee on Appropriations has approved a still unnumbered joint resolution which would allocate P10 Billion in calamity funds to beef up what is left of the P2 Billion calamity fund that was depleted by the massive devastation caused by the series of powerful typhoons that hit the country over the past several weeks.

In his report to Nograles, Appropriations chair and Quirino Rep. Junie Cua said the resolution was approved Friday while typhoon Pepeng was still battering provinces in Northern Luzon with massive rains and horrific winds that brought flooding and rendered major highways and bridges impassable.

Nograles said the Joint Resolution is expected to be submitted to the plenary on Monday for its swift approval.

"Typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng brought a horrific logistical nightmare in our disaster management and rehabilitation capabilities. We need this supplemental calamity fund if we want to help our people whose lives were destroyed by Ondoy and Pepeng," Nograles said.

Nograles said the Joint Resolution would allow the government to use unprogrammed appropriations to provide relief and fast track the rehabilitation of areas devastated by the typhoons as he noted that the Senate, through Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile has made a commitment to facilitate the resolution's swift approval before Congress goes on recess on October 16.

The proposal to augment the country's calamity funds came during a meeting between leaders of Congress and Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. at Sofitel Hotel in Pasay City Tuesday night.