DILG allots P20-M standby calamity fund
Secretary Ronaldo Puno of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Sunday ordered officials tasked to monitor disaster relief and response efforts to draw up measures that will strengthen the coordination between the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) and local government units (LGUs) in the issuance of calamity alerts.
At the same time, Puno also ordered the Department to set aside P20 million as standby fund to help small towns and remote communities "in acute need of assistance during calamities."
Puno, who was designated by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to oversee the NDCC's rural relief and assistance programs, said this close coordination between the NDCC and the LGUs will comply with Malacañang's directive for the Council to take a proactive stance in ensuring "zero casualties" during calamities.
The President had designated Puno to spearhead the monitoring of disaster relief initiatives in rural communities while Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro, who is concurrent NDCC chair, is now preoccupied with the military offensive in Basilan and Sulu.
"We need to sharpen local government response to calamity alerts issued by the NDCC, which is why I have directed the DILG group tasked to monitor disaster relief and response programs in rural communities to set up a mechanism to beef up the coordination between the NDCC at the national level, and our LGUs at the local level," Puno said.
To help government agencies work towards ensuring zero casualties during calamities, the President has authorized the use of police powers to force the evacuation of residents along river banks, low-lying areas, mountain slopes, and other vulnerable areas during typhoons and heavy downpours.
(PNA)