Senate eyes P100B fund for calamity response

MANILA - Senator Ralph Recto on Wednesday said a more detailed list of priorities for rehabilitation and reconstruction will be on the table when the Senate deliberates the supplemental budget later today. Speaking to Radio DZMM, Recto said the Senate on Tuesday backed a joint resolution seeking to extend until December 31 of next year the validity of calamity-related funds in the 2013 national budget. Senate President Franklin Drilon earlier said the resolution will ensure that government "will have adequate funds to respond to the magnitude of destruction caused by the past calamities, particularly super typhoon Yolanda." Recto said the Senate had the chance to carve out a budget space for the rehabilitation and reconstruction of areas affected by calamities in 2013 including super typhoon Yolanda, the Zamboanga City siege and the Bohol earthquake. He said he and Sen. Francis Escudero is working to allocate up to P100 billion for the reconstruction effort for 2014. This includes P20 billion from the Miscellaneous Personnel Benefit Fund (MPBF), P20 billion from the programmed fund of the budget and about P80 billion from the unprogrammed portion of the budget. "This will include housing, public facilities, reconstruction of municipal halls, bridges, roads and many others," he said. Recto said the Senate will discuss later the supplemental budget, which was passed by the House of Representatives. He said the deliberations will include what to do with the unused priority development assistance funds (PDAF) of lawmakers. "Ito yung natirang pera sa PDAF na sinabi ng Supreme Court na unconstitutional. Mayroon yung cash na maliwanag na mahigit P14.6 billion na sinertify ng Treasury. Mamayang gabi tatalakayin namin yan sa Senado at alam ko mayroong listahan dun na mas detalyado. Pag-uusapan namin yan mamayang gabi at inaasahan ko magbobotohan kami diyan para ilagay na rin sa calamity fund, sa quick response fund," he said.