Salo: Duterte can access $500M World Bank disaster fund

By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Kabalikat ng Mamamayan (Kabayan) partylist Rep. Ron Salo yesterday urged President Rodrigo Duterte to declare a “State of Emergency” amid the ongoing dry spell caused by El Niño, which AccuWeather describes as a climate pattern that raises sea temperatures in the Pacific Ocean and results in drought conditions due to reduced rainfall.

According to Salo, the dry spell is impacting the entire country, primarily agricultural areas.

The partylist congressman said such declarations would allow for the immediate release of disaster relief funds, which would provide direct aid to families hard hit by the drought conditions.

He also said the administration could tap the $500 million World Bank disaster relief fund, which the Department of Finance said is available when needed.

In addition, Salo requested the Commission on Elections to exempt areas under a State of Emergency of any election-related limitations to ensure that immediate assistance is disbursed.

Based on the latest monitoring by the Negros Occidental Office of the Provincial Agriculturist, combined crop damage caused by El Niño and various pests has reached P60.6 million./DGB, WDJ