The Iloilo City Government has allocated P14 million to buy food and non-food items in case of calamities this year. 

Teresa Gelogo, City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) head, on Tuesday, Jan. 9, said her office has a P5 million budget for food items and P2 million for non-food.

“We also have an additional P5 million for food and another P2 million for non-food from the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office,” she added. 

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) also provides augmentation when needed.

Last year, the city government used PHP5.996 million to buy food and non-food items and released P6.877 million for families displaced by fire, flood, typhoon, and tornado.

Gelogo said she has talked to CDRRM officer Donna Magno about using the regional evacuation center in Barangay Sooc Arevalo in case there are families displaced by calamities this year.

The CDRRM council approved during their meeting last month the local disaster risk reduction and management (LDRRM) fund annual investment plan for 2024, which contains, among others, the P10 million fund for the improvement of the regional evacuation center and the P10.8 million for supplies and materials, stockpiling of food and non-food items, and meals during operations.Perla Lena/PNA