The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Tuesday urged all local government units (LGUs), including barangays, to use 70% of their 5% disaster funds to acquire basic rescue and response equipment, and not for the salaries of local government personnel.

Speaking at the Tapatan sa Timog Katagalugan: A Caravan on Disaster Preparedness and Climate Change Adaptation held in Calamba City, DILG Undersecretary Austere Panadero pointed out to around 900 participants that the local disaster risk reduction and management (LDRRM) funds of LGUs, and even barangays, should not be used to pay for the salaries of DRRM officers, but for the acquisition of even the most basic emergency response equipment.

Earlier, the DILG issued Memo Circular 2012-73 which provides guidelines on the utilization of the LDRRMF.

Under the guidelines, 70% of the 5% LDRRMF may be utilized to procure early warning systems, preparedness equipment and other equipage, such as the following: for floods - rubber boats, inflatable rafts, rain gauges, warning bells, high power torches, fire extinguishers; for earthquakes – forklift, grader, hack saw, backhoe, electric drill, megaphone, safety full body harness.

For volcanic eruption – rescue whistle, warning bells, search lights, breathing apparatus, forklift; and for landslide – dump truck, foldable stretcher, pulling and lifting machine, first aid boxes, among others.

Panadero also pointed out that under RA 10121 or the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act, unexpended LDRRMF funds shall accrue to a special trust fund which shall be used solely for the purpose of supporting disaster risk reduction and management activities of the LDRRMCs within the next five (5) years.

He said any amount still not fully utilized after five (5) years shall revert back to the general fund and will be available for other social services to be identified by the local sanggunian

The Tapatan in Region IV-A led by DILG Calabarzon Regional Director Josefina Castilla-Go is the 15th of a series of regional disaster summits spearheaded by the DILG aimed at advocating disaster preparedness and climate change adaptation among local government units nationwide.

“While we may be better off today in terms of disaster readiness, the mindset of preparedness should be instilled down to the community and household levels because everybody should know what to do and where to seek help when disaster strikes,” Panadero said.

The participants were composed of governors, mayors and other local officials, local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Officers (DRRMOs) from Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon as well as representatives from civil society organizations, national government agencies, media and local resource institutions, among others.

Among those present were Phivolcs Director Renato Solidum, Jr., Dr. Alfredo Mahar F.A. Lagmay of DOST, Cainta Mayor Mon Ilagan, Laguna Gov. ER Ejercito and PNP-PRO Regional Director James Melad.

During the activity, three Quezon towns received P3.5-million as the first tranche of Salintubig financial assistance P3.5-million each, namely Buenavista, Catanauan and Lopez.

At the same time, 35 cities and towns from Batangas, Laguna and Quezon, which had been conferred with the Seal of Good Housekeeping in 2011, were also awarded checks of P1-million each from the Performance Challenge Fund. ###“While we may be better off today in terms of disaster readiness, the mindset of preparedness should be instilled down to the community and household levels because everybody should know what to do and where to seek help when disaster strikes,” he added. ###

DILG Central News Archive DILG Regional News Archive