Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan has called for the immediate appropriation of P15 billion to support relief, rehabilitation, recovery, repair, and reconstruction efforts in areas affected by the 7.8-magnitude earthquake that rocked several Mindanao provinces and cities yesterday.
Under proposed Senate Bill No. 2259, filed on June 9, the lawmaker sought a supplemental appropriation of P15 billion for fiscal year 2026 for the relief and rehabilitation efforts in Mindanao region following the earthquake that struck off the coast of Sarangani Province on Monday, June 8.
The quake has severely affected areas in Regions XI and XII, causing massive damages to homes, schools, medical centers, public infrastructure, commercial establishments, and other facilities.
Pangilinan said that the proposed fund would help ensure the swift delivery of assistance to affected families, rebuild damaged infrastructure, restore essential services, and support the recovery of local livelihoods.
“Ang prayoridad natin sa gitna ng sakunang ito ay ang kapakanan ng ating mga kababayan sa Mindanao—na sila ay maging ligtas, magkaroon ng sapat na tulong mula sa gobyerno, at nawa’y makabalik muli sa kanilang normal na buhay at hanapbuhay sa pinaka-madaling panahon,” he added.
“Higit pa sa agarang tulong na kailangan ng ating mga kababayan sa Mindanao ngayon, kailangan din nila ng matagalang suporta mula sa gobyerno para muli silang makabangon mula sa trahedyang ito,” the senator said.
The veteran senator said the funding must be sourced “out of any available funds in the National Treasury not otherwise appropriated.
The fund will augment the current budget of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) to address the needs of the affected areas in Mindanao.
He emphasized that the proposed allocation would augment existing disaster response resources and enable national and local government agencies to address urgent needs, including temporary shelter, food assistance, medical services, water and sanitation facilities, and the repair of schools, hospitals, roads, and other critical infrastructure.
The allocation, the measure stated, will be as follows: P2 billion for the Department of Agriculture (P1 billion each for the National Irrigation Administration and the assistance for farmers and fisherfolk), P2 billion for the Department of Education, P1.5 billion for the Department of Social Welfare and Development, P500 million for the Department of Energy, and P1 billion for state universities and colleges.
There will also be additional funding amounting to P1.5 billion for the Department of Health, P1 billion for the DOH and concerned local government units (for rural, district, and provincial hospitals), P1 billion for the Department of Public Works and Highways, P2 billion for the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development and the National Housing Authority, P500 million for the Department of Transportation, P2 billion for affected LGUs.
The Department of Budget and Management, the NDRRMC, the Commission on Audit, the Senate Committee on Finance, and the House Committee on Appropriations will be tasked to oversee the quarterly reports to be submitted by all agencies, LGUs, and government-owned or -controlled corporations that will receive the fund to ensure transparency and accountability.
The quarterly reports will include, among others, the amounts released, obligated, and disbursed; the projects, activities, and programs funded; locations of the projects and communities served; number of beneficiaries; physical and financial status of the implementation; procurement method used; and issues causing delay, if any.
According to the NDRRMC, the death toll from the earthquake has reached 37, while 479 people have so far been reported injured and four others remain missing.
The earthquake, one of the strongest that hit Mindanao in recent years, also damaged more than a billion pesos worth of public and private properties, the latest reports showed.