The House of Representatives wants to increase next year’s calamity fund by at least P5 billion. Speaker Lord Allan Velasco said the House would propose the increase during the bicameral conference on the proposed 2021 national budget. “Given the tremendous damage caused by these successive strong typhoons, it is imperative that we augment the calamity fund in next year’s spending plan. Under the proposed budget submitted in August to Congress, the calamity fund amounted to P20 billion. That balance is not even enough to rebuild Bicol, which was hard hit by Rolly,” Velasco said.

Source: Manila Times November 22, 2020 16:18 UTC