‘Use Ondoy, Pepeng rehab funds to fight drought’ – Loren

THE GOVERNMENT NEEDS TO REHABILITATE THE COUNTRY’S IRRIGATION SYSTEM TO FIGHT AN IMPENDING DROUGHT CAUSED BY EL NIÑO, ACCORDING TO NACIONALISTA PARTY VICE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE LOREN LEGARDA, WHO AIMS TO BE A “GREEN VP.”
Legarda made the proposal in answer to a reporter’s question at a press conference on Thursday morning at the Hotel del Rio in Iloilo City.
But does the country have funds for that?
“Yes, CONGRESS PASSED THE CALAMITY FUND, A SUPPLEMENTAL BUDGET IN 2009 IN THE AFTERMATH OF TYPHOONS Ondoy and Pepeng,” she said. “WE ALSO HAVE A 2010 GENERAL APPROPRIATIONS ACT THAT IS CLIMATE CHANGE SENSITIVE. Kailangan ngayon ibigay na dahil hindi na Ondoy at Pepeng, El Niño na. So merong kayang gawin na dapat gawin (They should be RELEASED now, but not for Ondoy and Pepeng. The problem now is El Niño. There’s something we can and we ought to do).”