Climate change – and the frequent and fiercer storms it causes – is now a macroeconomic assumption of the budget as weather swings wreak havoc on many fronts, from farm harvest to child schooling when schools are used as evacuation centers.

Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto said the recent flooding in Mega Manila exposed disaster response and resilience activities in need of funding.

“One, we need more all-weather rescue boats. Hindi pwede na sa local governments lang ang mga ito. If we are buying frigates which can sail up to Libya, we can certainly afford rescue boats which can fetch stranded people in Marikina,” Recto said.

He said one agency whose relief and rescue capabilities should be strengthened is the Metro Manila Development Authority.

“General Danny Lim is doing a great job as chairman. Let us give him more funds to build up a stronger rapid-response unit for disasters. Kung mayroong seaborne units ang MMDA, pwedeng linis-estero at ilog kung tag-araw, na pwedeng ma-covert into rescue teams during flooding,” Recto said.

“We can begin by stopping the almost P400 million cut in the MMDA budget for 2019. Its area of responsibility is one of the world’s top 20 biggest megapolises,” Recto said, referring to the agency’s proposed national government subsidy of P3.16 billion in 2019, from P3.55 billion this year.

Recto also renewed his call for the construction of more gymnasiums-cum-evacuation centers as part of the “Build, Build, Build” program.

The sports-cum-evacuation center, Recto explained, hits two birds with one stone. “It addresses the shortage of covered sports facilities, and the need for a disaster-resilient safe building people can seek shelter in during calamities.”

Such a multi-purpose civic center can host community events on ordinary days but can house evacuees during calamities, Recto said. “Hindi lang pang-sports. pang-disaster pa.”

Recto said the convertible gyms can store disaster rescue equipment and emergency supplies aside from being the “headquarters of the local disaster management committee.”

“Yung nakita nating magandang evacuation set-up sa Marikina at Makati ay nasa loob ng gym. We need more of those,” he said.

Recto said building more gyms in every town will prevent schools from becoming default evacuation areas during calamities, a practice which turns students into displaced persons, too.

Recto said the government began building evacuation centers in 2016, when that year’s national budget funded 32 dormitory-type buildings in 16 regions.

In addition to building more of these, Recto urged government to “consider other designs, like gymnasiums which will serve as evacuation centers during calamities.”

RELATED ARTICLES:

• 27 JAN 2018: Build gyms-cum-evacuation centers so schools won’t be used as disaster shelters

• 19 JUL 2017: From bomb, bomb, bomb, to build, build, build extending aid more important than extending ML – Recto

• 30 MAY 2017: Recto urges release of billions in Calamity Fund for Marawi City rehabilitation, aid to civilians

• 11 NOV 2016: Recto: Next year’s P37 B Calamity Fund silent on unfinished Yolanda work

• 25 OCT 2016: With Yolanda Anniversary days away, Recto scores low utilization of P19 B rehab fund

• 24 OCT 2016: No need for foreign aid P37 B of Calamity Fund unspend as of Aug 31 – Recto

• 23 OCT 2016: Recto – Cut red tape in the request use of Calamity Funds

• 16 APR 2016: Where’s Calamity Fund for fisherfolk hit by El Niño? – Recto

• 11 APR 2016: Recto: Next pres must cut calamity aid red tape; preposition aid to regions.

• 09 APR 2016: Recto: Red tape voluminous documents hamper El Niño

• 05 APR 2016: Send humanitarian army calamity aid, cabinet men to Kidapawan

• 02 APR 2016: Law requires online disclosure of El Niño Calamity Fund spending

• 11 FEB 2016: Dinky should ask palace for El Niño funds – Recto

• 23 OCT 2015: Recto proposes ‘CCT-V’ as better aid for disaster victims

• 20 OCT 2015: Gov’t told to dip into “bag of billions of unspent funds” to aid Lando victims

• 09 OCT 2015: To prevent drought in funds, Recto wants specific El Niño funding in 2016 budget

• 20 JAN 2014: Rehab funds in national udget carry “Do not plunder” warning

• 09 JAN 2014: I rechanneled my PDAF to the Calamity Fund

• 17 OCT 2013: Recto bats for bigger DAP funds in 2014

• 28 AUG 2013: Recto defends Calamity Fund: “Scrapping it will be the real calamity.”

• 07 AUG 2013: Recto: Tap P7.5 B Calamity Fund to help Mindanao areas hit by floods bombings

• 30 SEP 2011: Unspent budget is virtual ‘Calamity Fund’

SENATE BILLS/RESOLUTIONS:

• 21 JUL 2016: Senate Bill No. 805: Multipurpose Gym in All Municipalities Act of 2016