Straight Talk By Nimfa Estrellado January 18, 2020 Disaster/calamity fund through the years. 2016: Disastrous budget? Duterte admin s...
Straight Talk
By Nimfa Estrellado
January 18, 2020
Disaster/calamity fund through the years.
2016: Disastrous budget? Duterte admin slashes PH's calamity fund by half
2017: Duterte’s disaster fund cut by P11 billion
2018: Duterte government slashed disaster fund without explanation
2019: Congress cuts Duterte calamity fund by P11 billion
2020: Only P16B allotted for calamity fund from P4.1-T national budget
After a phreatic explosion occurred; mud, stones and sulfuric air have forced Batangueños to flee their homes. Since then, donations pouring in for the victims of Taal Volcano Eruption. Crusaders response is overwhelming and touching.
Where's the government? We understand the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) and other agencies and Local governments in the Philippines (LGUs). But where's the office of the president in the picture? Where's the calamity fund? Why did they cuts calamity fund? Hindi sa nag aalburuto ako gaya ng pag aalburuto ng Bulkang Taal. Pero bakit? Bakit ngayon pa?
While any right-minded president would've by now called the world's attention for much-needed help, President Rodrigo Duterte flew to Manila on January 14, 2020, just to give out birthday cash gifts to marines. IMAGINE WHAT 50K COULD DO TO THE PEOPLE OF BATANGAS. BATANGAS IS UNDER STATE OF CALAMITY, RUNNING OUT OF RESOURCES. Where is the common good?
As one of the countries most prone to the dangers of climate change, the calamity fund should be going up. The only acceptable reason for it going down is that we have invested so much more in risk mitigation infrastructure and efforts. Slashing the calamity fund by billions despite the yearly typhoons and earthquake and expecting the private sector to compensate.
By Nimfa Estrellado
January 18, 2020
Disaster/calamity fund through the years.
2016: Disastrous budget? Duterte admin slashes PH's calamity fund by half
2017: Duterte’s disaster fund cut by P11 billion
2018: Duterte government slashed disaster fund without explanation
2019: Congress cuts Duterte calamity fund by P11 billion
2020: Only P16B allotted for calamity fund from P4.1-T national budget
After a phreatic explosion occurred; mud, stones and sulfuric air have forced Batangueños to flee their homes. Since then, donations pouring in for the victims of Taal Volcano Eruption. Crusaders response is overwhelming and touching.
Where's the government? We understand the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) and other agencies and Local governments in the Philippines (LGUs). But where's the office of the president in the picture? Where's the calamity fund? Why did they cuts calamity fund? Hindi sa nag aalburuto ako gaya ng pag aalburuto ng Bulkang Taal. Pero bakit? Bakit ngayon pa?
While any right-minded president would've by now called the world's attention for much-needed help, President Rodrigo Duterte flew to Manila on January 14, 2020, just to give out birthday cash gifts to marines. IMAGINE WHAT 50K COULD DO TO THE PEOPLE OF BATANGAS. BATANGAS IS UNDER STATE OF CALAMITY, RUNNING OUT OF RESOURCES. Where is the common good?
As one of the countries most prone to the dangers of climate change, the calamity fund should be going up. The only acceptable reason for it going down is that we have invested so much more in risk mitigation infrastructure and efforts. Slashing the calamity fund by billions despite the yearly typhoons and earthquake and expecting the private sector to compensate.
The President had also jokingly suggests following a "primitive" way of helping Batangas residents. He suggested sending prayers and offerings to the volcano to ease its grumbling. Ain't nothin' wrong with that. But government having a budget for building airports, bridges and roads, but no budget for portalets or mobile toilets in disasters, is what's wrong.
May I remind you that President Rodrigo Duterte SLASHED 11 BILLION PESOS from the Calamity Fund. Instead, he inflated his “intelligence” fund. There’s no sign of intelligence in his government after more than 3 years. Duterte's intel fund increased by billions of pesos.
Someone on my Facebook timeline is defending the government's move to decrease the calamity fund. THE AUDACITY!
Videos of the aftermath of the Taal Volcano phreatic eruption in Batangas is very hard to watch. It’s heartrending. These folks have lost practically everything.
Batangas is the land of Kapeng Barako and people with the angry accent, as angry as Taal Volcano. Barako lang sila tingnan pero malambot ang kanilang mga puso.
Batangas is known for its coffee "Kapeng Barako", Batangas Lomi and its affinity for creating (and selling) blades. Their coffee is Kapeng Barako that is why they are always barako. Kapeng Barako is a kind of liberica coffee which was first introduced in the Spanish colonial times. It became a major source of income for the people of Batangas, with Lipa City even becoming the sole provider of coffee beans in the world. Kapeng barako, also known as Barako coffee or Batangas coffee, is a coffee varietal grown in the Philippines, particularly in the provinces of Batangas and Cavite.
Barako man ang mga Batangueño, pero ngayon kailangan kailangan nila ng tulong. This 2020, Batangueños were tested. Batangueños are currently fighting to survive but despite all the difficulties they face, they smile and help each other. We are always inspired by the resilience displaced by Filipino people. Bayanihan are all over Batangas and the barako spirit too! People from everywhere help those affected IN ANY WAY POSSIBLE. This is what Bayanihan is all about. This is the Philippines. Ala eh! Mas malakas ang pagsabog ng Bayanihan sa Batangas kaysa sa Bulkang Taal! Grabe sadya ang Bayanihan ng mga barakong Batangueño.
With Batangas province in a state like this, I try to see the beauty in the Bayanihan of our fellow Batangueños and fellow Filipinos. But it's really hard not to be mad at insensitive people.
Filipinos are resilient and known for our Bayanihan. But where is our government in this crucial time? We will do what we can to save ourselves and others but I hope the presence of government goes way beyond the announcement of no classes and selfies on their jet.
Let us continue to pray for the safety of all affected by the eruption of Taal and hopefully, the volcano calms down and goes quiet again so the people can return to their everyday lives.
BATANGAS WILL RISE !!! Soon they will all overcome everything. Lord, let your mighty hands touch the Taal Volcano and calm it down so that no one will be hurt.
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