BY GIO J. TANUDTANUD
THE CITY Disaster Risk and Reduction Management Office (CDRRMO) continues to guide the 182 barangays to spend their emergency budgets wisely and maximize resources to help all Davaoeños in times of calamity.
During the iSpeak Forum on Jan. 25, Maria Cristina Sunga-Villegas, acting head of the CDRRMO Research and Planning Division acting head, said they meet with barangay officials to help them utilize their funds properly.
The office also works with the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) to craft and review the Barangay Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Plan every three years. The document is a prerequisite to receiving their 5% allocation from Davao City’s calamity fund.
“Ang ilahang five percent, dili nila ma gasto kung wala siyay ginatawag na BDRRM plan kay diha nato gina programa ang ilahang budget na five percent every year,” she said.
According to the Philippine News Agency, the DILG strengthened barangay preparedness against natural disasters last Oct. 24, 2022, since the Philippines is one of the most vulnerable with an index score of 46.86 in the World Disaster Risk Index 2022.
The 5% from the Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund (LDRRMF) comes from the local government’s calamity fund, an annual lump sum to support risk management activities and unforeseen expenditures.
The Barangay Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Plan, mandated by the Republic Act No. 10121, also known as the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010, aims to prevent and reduce the damage caused by natural hazards like earthquakes or floods.
