P88.7 Million Disaster Trust Fund Approved
The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) of Cebu approved an P88.7 million trust fund program during a meeting at the Capitol on Monday, June 29, 2026. The fund is intended to finance disaster response and mitigation projects across the province.
The proposed budget will be endorsed to the Provincial Board (PB) for deliberation and approval before implementation, according to a statement posted by the Provincial Government on its Public Information Office’s Facebook page on Tuesday, June 30.
Breakdown of Allocations
The council allocated P73.7 million for disaster preparedness, P6 million for disaster prevention and mitigation, P4 million for disaster response and early recovery, and P5 million for post-disaster recovery and rehabilitation.
Of the preparedness allocation, P47 million will fund the procurement of emergency vehicles, including a water tanker, mobile command center, response vehicles, and a mobile shower. The PDRRMC also earmarked P15 million for information technology equipment, communication systems, and digital platforms for the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) Command Center. Another P10 million will be used to acquire rescue equipment, protective gear, life detectors, and seismic equipment. An additional P2 million was allocated for an emergency water supply system.
Prevention and Response Initiatives
The P6 million prevention and mitigation budget includes P1 million for public education campaigns on geological and weather hazards and P5 million for training programs. The P4 million allocated for disaster response will fund relief goods, supplies, temporary shelters, and distribution costs for local government units and affected residents. The remaining P5 million will support post-disaster recovery and rehabilitation activities.
Council Meeting Details
Governor Pamela Baricuatro presided over the council meeting. Attendees included Provincial Administrator Joseph Felix “Ace” Durano, PDRRMO head Dennis Pastor, and representatives from the Department of Science and Technology, the Department of Public Works and Highways, the Office of Civil Defense, and the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc.
Previous Approvals
In an earlier report, the PB approved the use of P473.58 million from the Province’s disaster risk reduction and management trust fund after reviewing compliance issues, timing concerns, and inconsistencies in submitted documents. The approval covered the Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Investment Plan requested by Baricuatro, but only for unused funds from 2021 to 2024.
The PB reduced the original proposal of P542.3 million after excluding P68.7 million from 2020 because the allocation had exceeded the five-year spending period allowed under Republic Act 10121, or the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010. The executive department had earlier sought authority to use P518.21 million in unused disaster funds from 2021 to 2025 to strengthen disaster risk reduction, response, and recovery efforts.
