Anilao cites all-hazards approach to defend road sign spending

By Rjay Zuriaga Castor

ILOILO CITY — The local government of Anilao, Iloilo, has defended its use of disaster funds for traffic safety signs, arguing that vehicular accidents are human-induced hazards covered by the national disaster law.

The Commission on Audit (COA) questioned the PHP 288,390 expenditure in its 2025 audit findings, saying the project should have been funded through the town’s general fund.

Anilao invoked the “all-hazards approach” mandated under Republic Act 10121, or the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010.

It said disaster risk reduction extends to human-induced hazards, including vehicular accidents.

The town argued that the project underwent proper local planning and received approval from the disaster council.

It added that the project was duly included in the municipality’s Annual Investment Program, the yearly list of programs and projects a local government plans to fund, to enhance public safety along high-risk road sections.

The town had set aside PHP 300,000 in its Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Plan for “Additional Early Warning/Hazard Signages.”

Disbursements reached PHP 288,390 across three transactions in 2025, covering 22 sets of installed signs such as “Slow Down School Zone Ahead,” “Slow Down Pedestrian Crossing Ahead,” and “Slow Down Blind Curve Ahead.”

Police data

The local government presented police certifications documenting vehicular traffic data, road safety risks, and accident occurrences along local road sections.

It argued that these hazards constitute human-induced disasters.

But the COA audit team maintained its position in a formal rejoinder.

It clarified that road safety concerns and police certifications on vehicular traffic do not establish a disaster situation requiring the use of disaster risk reduction and management funds.

COA reiterated that routine road safety infrastructure must be financed out of regular local appropriations to preserve the Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund for genuine disaster resilience initiatives.

Safeguards promised

In its subsequent Agency Action Plan and Status of Implementation, the local government said it had established stricter evaluation procedures, hazard identification checklists, and legal classification processes.

These measures are meant to ensure that future projects funded through the disaster fund comply with national guidelines.

The dispute centers on how far local governments may stretch money they are required to set aside for disasters, which is not less than 5% of their estimated regular revenues.