Marcelino Libanan
TACLOBAN CITY — Nearly P40 billion has been set aside under the 2026 national budget to strengthen the country’s disaster response and rehabilitation efforts, House Minority Leader Marcelino Libanan announced Sunday, Feb. 22.
Libanan of the 4Ps party-list said Congress allocated P39.8 billion for this year’s Calamity Fund under the 2026 General Appropriations Act, marking a 90-percent increase from the P21 billion approved in 2025.
Of the total amount, P15.3 billion will go to the Disaster Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Assistance Program for local government units; P12.5 billion is earmarked for capital outlays covering repair and reconstruction of permanent structures and pre-disaster operations; P11 billion is allotted for aid, relief, and rehabilitation services, including personnel training; and P1 billion is reserved for adaptation projects under the People’s Survival Fund.
Libanan said the fund may be used for natural and human-induced calamities, epidemics declared by the Department of Health, and crises arising from armed conflict, insurgency, or terrorism.
The announcement comes amid recent disasters in Mindanao.
The Region 11 Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council reported that at least seven people were killed in flooding and landslides in Mati City, Davao Oriental, and Monkayo, Davao de Oro following heavy rains.
More than 84,000 individuals in 65 barangays across the Davao region were affected by prolonged rainfall caused by a shear line.
Earlier this month, Tropical Storm Basyang also triggered flash floods and landslides that killed at least 12 people and affected over 232,000 residents in Mindanao and the Visayas.
The Philippines remains highly vulnerable to disasters. The 2025 World Risk Report ranked the country first among 193 nations in disaster risk exposure for the fourth straight year, citing frequent typhoons, floods, earthquakes, and volcanic activity.
The country lies along the western Pacific typhoon corridor and the Pacific Ring of Fire, with active volcanoes such as Mayon Volcano, Taal Volcano, and Kanlaon Volcano currently showing unrest or ongoing activity.
(LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)
