As 3 million Filipinos are gravely affected by recent typhoons, Kabataan Party-list Rep. Raymond “Mong” Palatino today scored as a “man-made disaster” the decision of President Benigno Aquino III to veto disaster preparation in the P5 billion calamity fund for 2011.

“While damages caused by typhoons are invetible, we can definitely reduce them through disaster preparedness. As more typhoons are expected to hit the Philippines in the following days, the President should strenghten pre-disaster activities to substantially reduce the devastating effects of typhoons and other calamities,” Palatino said.

In his veto message on the 2011 national budget, President Aquino said that the P5 billion calamity fund should be mainly used by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) for “actual calamities”.and not for “preparation of relocation sites/facilities, and training personnel engaged in direct disaster.”

Palatino said that based on Section 22 of Republic Act No. 10121 approved in 2009 disaster risk reduction, prevention and preparedness should be the primary mandate of the NDRRMC. The law further states that quick response to calamities should be secondary and should only be given 30% of the total NDRRMC budget.

“RA no. 10121 affirms the importance of pre-disaster preparations over quick response measures. The decision of President Aquino to veto disaster preparation for this year’s calamity fund results to unequipped personnel and inefficient government response before, during and after calamities. The veto is man-made disaster that should be reversed by the President himself,” Palatino said.

Although the President’s veto message states that pre-disaster activities are embedded in the services of various agencies like the DPWH, DSWD, and DND, Palatino said that “government efforts leave much room for improvement.”

Palatino cited the ‘photoshopped’ images of DPWH officals inspecting the damage of recent typhoons as an “agitating reminder of government inefficiency”

“The tampered photos of DPWH officieals servce as an agitating reminder of government inefficiency. It is a condemnable act that reveals the problematic disaster framework implemented by the government. The President should take appropriate actions to address this problem,” Palatino said.

Palatino also said for 2012 the President will be allocating P7.5 billion for calamity fund and P14.2 billion for “disaster risk reducation and management.” Palatino said the huge amount is questionable given the lack of a proper disaster framework of the Aquino administration.

“The increased funding for a flawed disaster framework is a waste of money. More people will suffer from typhoons and other calamities if disaster preparedness will still play a minimal role,” Palatino said.

Meanwhile, Kabataan Party-list together with national youth groups launched “Tulong Kabataan” to consolidate youth efforts for disaster preparedness and immediate relief of affected communties. ###