LGUs affected by Taal eruption need urgent financial aid

Local government units (LGUs) affected by the Taal Volcano eruption are experiencing a depletion of their calamity funds and are in urgent need of financial aid.

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) plans to request additional funding from Congress or the Office of the President to support ongoing disaster relief operations.

House Speaker Alan Cayetano has proposed a meeting with the DILG to discuss potential budgetary assistance from Congress for the affected areas.

Some mayors have reported having zero funds left for calamity assistance, highlighting the critical financial strain on LGUs.

LGUs in Batangas and Cavite are currently under a state of calamity due to the continuous unrest of Taal Volcano.

The collection of business and real property taxes in January, a usual source of funds for LGUs, has been hampered in the affected areas.

While the national government assures sufficient funds for disaster response, Budget Secretary Wendel Avisado urged Batangas to first utilize its existing calamity fund of P409 million.