Eastern Visayas Media Without Borders
by Miriam G.Desacada
Tacloban City–The government has allocated P39.8 billion for disaster-response and rehabilitation efforts in 2026, a 90% increase from the P21 billion set aside in 2025.
According to House Minority Leader Rep. Marcelino “Nonoy” Libanan, the funds will be used to support local government units, repair and reconstruct damaged infrastructure, and provide aid to communities affected by calamities.
Breakdown of the Calamity Fund:
- P15.3 billion for Disaster Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Assistance Program for Local Government Units
- P12.5 billion for repair and reconstruction of permanent structures
- P11 billion for aid, relief, and rehabilitation services
- P1 billion for adaptation projects and activities under the People’s Survival Fund
The funds will cover natural and human-induced calamities, epidemics, crises from armed conflicts, and other catastrophes. The allocation comes as the Philippines continues to face various natural hazards, including typhoons, flooding, and volcanic eruption
The Philippines is ranked No. 1 out of 193 countries in the 2025 World Risk Report due to its exposure to natural hazards.“Congress allocated ₱39.8 billion for this year’s Calamity Fund—a 90 percent increase from the ₱21 billion set aside in 2025,” Libanan said.
Libanan detailed the P39.8 billion Calamity Fund under the 2026 General Appropriations Act as follows:
· P15.3 billion for the Disaster Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Assistance Program for Local Government Units
“The disaster-response funds cover natural and human-induced calamities, epidemics as declared by the Department of Health, crises from armed conflicts, insurgency, terrorism, and other catastrophes,” Libanan said.
Libanan’s announcement coincides with reports from the Region 11 Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, which on February 21 confirmed that at least seven people were killed in Mati City, Davao Oriental, and Monkayo, Davao de Oro due to flooding and landslides triggered by heavy rains.
A total of 84,208 individuals across 65 barangays in the Davao region were affected by prolonged rainfall caused by a shear line, a boundary in the atmosphere where winds moving in different directions converge, often leading to unsettled weather.
Earlier this month, tropical storm Basyang caused flash floods and landslides, killing at least 12 people and affecting 232,550 residents across 517 barangays in Mindanao and the Visayas.
The 2025 World Risk Report ranked the Philippines No. 1 out of 193 countries for the fourth consecutive year, due largely to its exposure to natural hazards such as typhoons, flooding, sea-level rise, droughts, earthquakes, tsunamis, and volcanic eruptions.
The Philippines sits along the western Pacific typhoon corridor where nearly one-third of the world’s most powerful tropical cyclones develop.
The country also straddles the Pacific Ring of Fire, known for frequent earthquakes and volcanic activity.
Three of the country’s active volcanoes – Mayon, Taal, and Kanlaon – are currently exhibiting unrest or ongoing eruptions.
