To compare, the lost portion of the proposed 2020 calamity fund is just P500 million short of the so-called black budget (P4.5 billion), or the combined intelligence and confidential funds, of the Office of the President (OP). The OP was allocated with a P8.2-billion budget.
By INA ALLECO R. SILVERIO
“The government should allocate resources and funds needed for local disaster response systems to properly act. There should be consistent monitoring and updating of areas which are vulnerable to widespread flooding or flash floods (especially in low-lying areas or communities near large dams and rivers) and landslides (especially in geohazard zones and deforested areas).” – Kalikasan Party