Improve disaster fund use to enhance calamity intervention, CPBRD says

THE National Government needs to improve the utilization of disaster mitigation and response funds to enhance the implementation of calamity intervention programs, a congressional think-tank said.

In a November report, the Congressional Policy and Budget Research Department (CPBRD) said the government should enhance the absorptive capacity of the Public Works and Highways department while also streamlining public procurement processes to help fast-track disaster response efforts.

“With already limited funds for disaster, it is important that any funds allotted for agency projects should be utilized efficiently to deliver services or complete projects on a timely basis,” according to the report written by Arsenia S. Gonzales and Romualdo F. Go II.

Climate change poses a major developmental risk for the Philippines, according to a 2022 World Bank report, citing it could shrink the country’s gross domestic product by 13.6% by 2040 if left unmitigated.

The Philippines, which faces an average of 20 typhoons yearly, also remained as the most disaster-prone country for the 16^th consecutive year, according to the latest World Risk Index.

The government of President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. has made climate change mitigation a cornerstone of his national agenda, incorporating it under the Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028.

The state has allocated about P20 billion to the calamity fund annually since 2018, according to the CPBRD. It was allotted P20.5 billion for this year, based on the 2024 General Appropriations Act.

The congressional think-tank noted that the utilization of the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Fund (NDRRMF) remains lackluster in effectively mitigating climate change despite billions being poured into it yearly.

“There is a need for a more systematic monitoring and evaluation to ensure that disaster-related interventions are provided in a timely manner and that delays in implementation are addressed to minimize fund wastage and ensure that intended outputs and outcomes are realized,” it said.

The CPBRD also said the government should consider “innovative” financing schemes, such as insurance, as a “big portion” of the budget go toward repair and rehabilitation of damaged properties.

“Considering the limited resources of the government, innovative ways such as additional financing like insurance can augment the limited resources of the General Appropriations Act,” it said.

The report comes after the Philippines was battered by a series of strong typhoons in a span of two weeks, which resulted in agriculture and infrastructure damage worth P8.64 million and P469.84 million, respectively, based on initial National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council reports. — Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio