Congress Raises 2025 Calamity Fund to PHP21B

Congress has increased the country’s Calamity Fund by PHP500 million for 2025 to strengthen disaster preparedness and climate resilience efforts.

“In the 2025 General Appropriations Law, we earmarked PHP21 billion for the Calamity Fund,” Quezon City Rep. Marvin Rillo said on Sunday.

“This is PHP500 million more than the PHP20.5 billion allocated in 2024,” added Rillo, a member of the House committee on appropriations.

“Our goal is to ensure that government agencies are well-equipped to respond to disasters, enabling faster recovery and continuity of essential services,” he said.

The Calamity Fund, officially known as the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund, is intended for pre- and post-disaster programs.

Rillo detailed that PHP10.7 billion is allotted for aid, relief and rehabilitation services in calamity-hit areas, including training and other preparedness activities.

Another PHP9.3 billion will go to capital outlays for the repair and reconstruction of damaged permanent structures.

The remaining PHP1 billion is reserved for the People’s Survival Fund to support climate adaptation projects led by local governments and community groups.

Rillo also cited separate 2025 Quick Response Fund allocations across key government agencies for emergency response and rehabilitation.

The Department of Education will receive PHP3 billion, while the Department of Social Welfare and Development gets PHP1.25 billion.

The Department of Agriculture and Department of Public Works and Highways will each receive PHP1 billion.

The Department of Health and the Department of National Defense-Office of Civil Defense will each get PHP500 million.

The National Irrigation Administration is set to receive PHP300 million.

The Department of Transportation-Philippine Coast Guard will get PHP75 million.

The Department of the Interior and Local Government will receive PHP50 million each for the Philippine National Police and the Bureau of Fire Protection.

The increase comes amid the Philippines’ top ranking in the 2024 World Risk Index as the world’s most disaster-prone country.

Located in the typhoon belt of the northwestern Pacific Ocean, the Philippines experiences an average of 20 storms annually.

The country also lies within the Pacific Ring of Fire, making it highly vulnerable to earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.

Following the Philippines in the global disaster risk index are Indonesia, India, Colombia, Mexico, Myanmar, Mozambique, Russia, Bangladesh and Pakistan.