Senate eyes fund to rebuild quake-hit homes

MANILA, Philippines — The Senate is studying the creation of a “Build Back Better Fund” in next year’s budget to help rebuild homes and communities damaged by recent calamities, Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian said yesterday.

Gatchalian, chair of the Senate finance committee, said the fund will be carved out of the Local Government Support Fund (LGSF) and used to assist residents whose homes were destroyed, including those in quake-hit Bogo City in Cebu.

He clarified that the proposal would not create a new budget item but would expand the uses of the LGSF to include housing subsidy and reconstruction support.

“We would just include an additional criteria,” he said.

Gatchalian said about P182 billion in disaster response funds remain available across various agencies, enough to cover current needs until the end of the year.

While some have proposed sourcing funds from flood control allocations, the senator said there are already sufficient reserves under the LGSF, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) fund and the contingency fund.

He also acknowledged public “trust issues” with the Department of Public Works and Highways but expressed confidence the agency’s leadership would institute reforms.

To ensure transparency, he said agencies with their own budgets – such as the Departments of Education and Housing – could directly handle reconstruction projects or oversee their bidding.

Davao death toll now 8

Meanwhile, the death toll in twin quakes that struck Davao Oriental and nearby provinces last Friday has increased to eight while over 125,000 families were affected, the NDRRMC reported yesterday.

Office of Civil Defense Assistant Secretary Bernardo Rafaelito Alejandro IV said the eight fatalities were from Davao Oriental, Davao de Oro and Davao City. The number of those killed, he said, were for validation. No person was reported missing.

He said 125,000 families or 491,000 people from 303 barangays were affected by the twin temblors.

In its report, the NDRRMC said 66,366 families or 280,868 people affected were from the Davao Region while 58,917 families or 210,390 people were from Caraga.

The earthquakes damaged 2,155 houses in Davao and Caraga regions.

The damage to 273 infrastructure facilities in both regions is estimated at P100.3 million.

The Philippine National Police yesterday said the security situation in Davao Oriental remains stable and manageable.

PNP acting chief Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said the quick deployment of police units for rescue, evacuation and relief operations helped maintain order in affected communities.

Maj. Cirelo Solaña, chief of the Davao Oriental Police Provincial Office’s operations unit, reported minor structural damage to police stations, schools, bridges and other public buildings.

Relief operations

The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) has tapped its small town lottery operators or authorized agent corporations (AACs) to conduct a massive relief distribution drive in quake-hit areas in the Davao region.

PCSO personnel from its Davao Branch Office, in collaboration with Jambhala Gaming Corp., Felicity Games and Amusement Corp. and Plutus Gaming Corp., had joined forces to mobilize their resources and conduct emergency first responder operations and bring assistance to the earthquake victims.

In a related development, commercial firms affected by the devastating quake in Cebu may seek exemption from paying salary increases to workers, according to the Department of Labor and Employment.

Establishments regularly employing not more than 10 workers and those affected by natural calamities or human-induced disasters may apply for exemption from compliance with the new wage order.

Eligible firms are given until Dec. 2 to apply for wage exemption.

Meanwhile, Vice President Sara Duterte over the weekend confirmed that she personally experienced the two strong earthquakes in Davao City on Friday. Noting that she was not able to bring anything when she and her family left home, she emphasized the importance of preparing go bags for disasters. — Pia Lee-Brago, Mark Ernest Villeza, Rainier Allan Ronda, Mayen Jaymalin, Bella Cariaso