The passage of the 2025 national budget would boost disaster aid funding to ensure timely relief operations to communities that are affected by the recent typhoons in the country, Senator Grace Poe said on Sunday.
Out of the Php 6.352 trillion budget for 2025, Php 21 billion was allocated for the National Risk Reduction and Management Fund, the Senate Finance Committee report indicated. According to Poe, the said amount is Php 500 million higher than this year’s appropriation.
"The increase is for our people's urgent and essential needs during calamities. If communities have the resources, they can make timely responses that can save lives," Poe stated.
The Senator added that the calamity fund should also be used to address the repair and rehabilitation needs of the affected areas in the country, not just for immediate relief. She added how pre-disaster operations like early evacuation, are also important measures to consider when studying the impact of calamities.
"Itong budget na nilalaan natin ay hindi lang sana para maabutan ang mga biktima ng bagyo o iba pang kalamidad ng pagkain sa ilang araw,” Poe stated.
"Pantulong din ito sa pagbangon at muling pagsisimula ng ating mga kababayang nasalanta," she added.
Moreover, the Senator assured her support for increasing the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) quick response fund.
"Matindi itong hagupit sa ilan nating kababayan ng sunod sunod na bagyo. Inaayos nating mabuti ang budget para masiguro na sa panahon ng pangangailangan, mayroon tayong pinaghuhugutan ng tulong," Poe stated.
