The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council of Benguet allocated P500,000 from its unspent funds as financial assistance to the provincial government of Batangas to be extended to the victims of the Taal Volcano eruption.
In a resolution, the PDRRMC allocated the amount under its local disaster risk reductions and management trust fund for calendar year 2016 to 2019 for the assistance to the province and its people.
“As a sign of solidarity with them in their difficult times, it is befitting to provide assistance thru financial assistance to assuage their sufferings,” the resolution read.
The council said under the implementing rules and regulations of Republic Act 10121 or the act strengthening the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management System, the unspent LDRRMF shall accrue to a special trust fund solely for the purpose of supporting DRRM activities of the local DRRM councils within the next five years.
It said the local DRRM council may transfer funds to support disaster risk reduction work of other councils which are declared under state of calamity.
“With the eruption of the Taal Volcano on Jan. 12, it wrought catastrophic damages to the province of Batangas and its nearby areas. The impact of the eruption is overwhelming and beyond the coping capacity of the local government unit,” it stated.
Batangas was declared under the state of calamity on Jan. 13 and reported an estimated damage of more than P2 billion.
Meanwhile, various groups in Benguet are continuing their donation drive for those affected by the volcanic eruption.
Tons of vegetables were earlier sent to various evacuation sites in Batangas coming from farmers of the province.
Financial assistance from traders and farmers were also brought to affected residents in various areas of the province.
Most of the families in the evacuation centers were already allowed to return to their homes after authorities lowered Taal volcano’s alert level. – Ofelia C. Empian
April 25, 2024
