Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian is pushing for the creation of a ‘Build Back Better Fund’ in next year’s national budget to accelerate recovery and reconstruction in communities devastated by recent calamities.
‘We’re thinking of carving out funds from what we call ‘Build Back Better Fund’ next year to help victims of earthquake, particularly in Bogo City, Cebu. We have what we call Local Government Support Fund as a possible source of financing for the proposed initiative to help affected people rebuild their homes,’ he said in an interview with radio dzBB on Sunday.
Asked if the allocation may also come from funding that would be transferred from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Gatchalian said that would also be possible.
‘But I also saw that there were reserved funds for these kinds of responses, the local government support fund. There are also the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund (NDRRMF) fund and contingency fund. so for 2026, because the funding is still intact so we still have resources,’ said the chair of the Committee on Finance.
This will not be a new item in the budget, he said.
‘We will just add new criteria or a new possibility where the funds may be used. There were around 100 tents built, so it means we have so many fellowmen affected by the quake. They cannot go back if we do not help them. So this is where we will get the funds to help them rebuild their houses,’ said Gatchalian.
Eyeing higher allocations
For next year, the Senate is also eyeing higher allocations for agencies handling post-disaster reconstruction, particularly for rebuilding classrooms, restoring heritage sites such as century-old churches damaged by the recent earthquake, and providing housing for displaced families
For now, Gatchalian said the government can tap a total of ?182.8 billion from various funding sources to boost response and rehabilitation efforts.
Based on data from the senator’s office, the available 2025 budget for rehabilitation and response includes a ?7 billion balance from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund (NDRRMF), ?6.4 billion from the Quick Response Fund (QRF), and ?287 million from the Disaster Response Operations Fund of the Office of Civil Defense.
In addition, he said the Local Government Support Fund (LGSF) still has ?15 billion, the Contingent Fund ?12 billion, and the Unprogrammed Appropriations ?141 billion, specifically under the Strengthening Assistance for Government Infrastructure and Social Programs (SAGIP).
Gatchalian said the Palace has not yet asked for a supplemental budget to address disaster response needs. ‘As of now, the Executive has still enough funds until the end of the year, it’s now October anyway,’ he added.