00:00Since the last week of October, the country has dealt with four tropical storms and or
00:04cyclones beginning with the unexpectedly devastating tropical storm Christine that ravaged several
00:10regions from western and eastern Visayas, Picol, Calabarzon, the Cordilleras, Ilocos
00:15and Cagayan Valley.
00:16And with two more weather menaces headed right into the country this weekend and next one,
00:21one wonders how the hundreds of billions of millions in relief of financial assistance
00:26distributed thus far is bankrolled by government's Calamity Fund, 22 billion for this year alone.
00:33Our Clazel Padilla tells us more about the solvency of the fund and how it's been reduced
00:38for the final quarter of the year.
00:43Even as Taipunica continues to impact the country, two more storms are expected to follow,
00:49bringing further threats to the Philippines.
00:51In response to these challenges, President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. assured the public
00:56the government has adequate funds to address the impacts of incoming typhoons.
01:02Presidential Communications Secretary Cesar Chavez explained, while the Calamity Fund
01:06is decreasing, President Marcos, Jr. has confirmed the Department of Budget and Management's
01:13readiness to support disaster response efforts.
01:16The assurance comes as authorities prepare for the potential arrival of more severe weather
01:21disturbances in the coming days.
01:24The government always has a fund, and we have assurance from the DBM that we have enough
01:30funds for the next calamities until the end of December.
01:36The Calamity Fund is used to aid disaster victims, repair damaged infrastructures, and support
01:42other emergency responses.
01:45The DBM has allocated a Php22 billion Calamity Fund for 2024.
01:50In preparation for approaching storms, President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. has directed the Department
01:55of Public Works and Highways and the Department of Transportation to alert their private contractors
02:01to deploy trucks and equipment immediately in a heightened sense of urgency.
02:05This directive also extends to the attached agencies of both departments, ensuring response
02:11teams are ready before typhoons make landfall.
02:15This will ensure road-clearing operation and swift delivery of relief goods.
02:20The trucks, machinery, and private contractors that have contracts with the government, DOTR,
02:28DPWH, should be prepositioned.
02:31They should have instructions from the DOTR, the Department of Public Works and Highways,
02:39and attached agencies of DOTR and DPWH, the trucks of the contractors that have contracts
02:47with the national government should be prepositioned.
02:52Typhoons Ophel and Petito are expected to hit the country later this week.
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