?OURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
Second Regular Session 
SENATE 
S. No. 
.. 
INTRODUCED BY THE HONORABLE MAR R O W  
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Philippines is one of the rather unfortunate countries in this part of the world that’s 
often ravaged and devastated by strong typhoons. Disaster coordination plans are reviewed every so 
often to mitigate damage to life and property. Notwithstanding all these disaster preparations and 
coordination plans, however, there were still significant losses of life, injuries to persons, and 
damages to property when Typhoon Frank (International Code Name: Fengshen) hit Philippine 
territory. Damage to business, property and agriculture were in such numbers that economic 
activities were placed on standstill. More than 4 million people were affected, and half of them 
stayed in evacuation centers put up in the affected areas in Region 6 and 8. 
The force of Typhoon Frank created a path of destruction particularly on the Western Visayas 
region. Reports from the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) pegged the damage at PI4 
Billion. This estimate is already close to the average P15 million that typhoons inflict on the 
country’s economy each year. In particular, the flood brought about by the typhoon was the worst to 
hit Panay Island in recorded history. The NDCC statistics, the news accounts of the flood, and the 
TV footages of the disaster, however, cannot approximate the horrible experiences that the people of 
Panay and the surrounding provinces went through. The whole island was practically under water 
and the patches of visible ground were either mud or thatches of what were once homes. Strewn 
vehicles, goods and personal belongings were everywhere. Roads were impossible and key bridges 
were completely destroyed. People groped in darkness as electric and telephone lines went dead. 
Farm lands were washed away, cattle and poultry drowned. 
About P5.21 Billion account for damaged agricultural products in the provinces of Aklan and 
Iloilo alone. The NDCC said that damage to roads and bridges account for P2.3 Billion with most of 
them also in Aklan, Iloilo and Capiz. Damage to school buildings was estimated at P455 Million, 
mostly in the Panay Region. In the province of Iloilo, the fishing industry lost some P400 Million, 
for which industry players will take five to six months to recover. Reports from the Provincial 
Agriculturist would show that the flooding brought “very significant” losses to fish producers, 
especially fish pond operators who lost dikes and fishponds to floods. Tons of ready-to-harvest fish 
stocks were lost after the fishponds overflowed. This includes at least P304.2 Million of losses in 
aquaculture and P112.8 Million to municipal fishing. 
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo had ordered local government units to prepare 
rehabilitation plans for the damaged properties, infrastructure, and agricultural lands in their areas so 
the national government could disburse the needed tun& for the rehabilitation of the cities, towns 
and provinces. However, a review of the 2008 General Appropriations Act would show that the 
budget is not going to be enough to cope with the reconstruction and rehabilitation needs. It 
becomes imperative, therefore, that a supplemental budget be passed by Congress for the relief, 
reconstruction and rehabilitation of the Island of Panay and the neighboring provinces. 
In view of the foregoing, approval of this bill is urgently sought. 
I 
Senitor 


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FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
Second Regular Session 
) 
S. No. 
2622 
INTRODUCED BY THE HONORABLE MAR ROXAS 
AN ACT 
APPROPRIATING 
THE 
SUM 
OF 
TWENTY BILLION 
PESOS 
(P20,000,000,000.00) AS SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATION FOR THE 
IMPLEMENTATION OF RELIEF OPERATIONS, RECONSTRUCTION AND 
REHABILITATION OF THE PROVINCES OF ILOILO, AKLAN, CAPIZ, 
ANTIQUE, AND ILOILO CITY, PANAY ISLAND, BACOLOD CITY, AND 
PROVINCES OF NEGROS OCCIDENTAL AND GUIMARAS WHICH 
SUFFERED DEVASTATION BROUGHT ABOUT BY TYPHOON FRANK, 
AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES, 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of the Representatives in Congress 
assem bled: 
SECTION 1. Appropriations. - The sum of Twenty Billion Pesos (PZO,OOO,OOO,OOO.OO) 
is appropriated for the implementation of relief operations, reconstruction and rehabilitation 
of the Province of Iloilo, Antique, Aklan, Capiz, Guimaras, Negros Occidental, Iloilo City and 
Bacolod City. The sum appropriated shall be called “Paglaum Fund” or the Fund.” 
SEC. 2. 
Guidelines in the Allocation of the Paglaum Fund. - The Paglaum Fund 
herein appropriated shall be spend judiciously in consonance with the principle of providing 
the greatest good for the greatest number of people. The following guidelines shall be 
observed in allocating the Paglaum Fund: 
(a) Priority shall be given to roads and bridges, communication and power lines, 
hospitals, school buildings, water and irrigation systems and such other projects 
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as drainage works, resettlement centers and home sites in the construction, 
repair andor reconstmction of government infrastructure and facilities; 
Aid, relief, rehabilitation and livelihood shall be extended equitably to all 
victims, irrespective of political or party affiliations, gender, creed, religious 
relief, or ethnic origin, giving emphasis to livelihood and employment 
opportunities; and 
No money shall be released without any identified program or project nor shall 
any sum from the Paglaum Fund be used to pay obligations incurred before the 
approval of this Act. 
(b) 
(c) 
SECTION 3. Use ofthe Paglaum Fund - The Paglaum Fund shall be used to cover 
repair, rehabilitation, and construction of roads, bridges, irrigation systems, school buildings, 
government buildings, sea ports and airports, hospitals, and other public infrastructures; 
purchase of hospital equipment, supplies and medicines, purchase of relocation sites; 
construction of housing units; and funding for the implementation of the Comprehensive 
Integrated Delivery of Social Services (CIDSS) under the Department of Social Welfare and 
Development, livelihood programs, agricultural assistance and other support programs for 
farmers and fisherfolks. 
The Paglaum Fund shall be used for the purposes indicated and shall be released for 
the relevant departments, bureaus, offices, agencies and local government units (LGUs) in 
accordance with budgeting and related relevant laws, rules and regulations. 
SEC. 4. Creation of the Western Wsayas (Region Vq Rehabilitation and Development 
Commission. - For purposes of this Act, the Western Visayas (region VI) Rehabilitation and 
Development Commission, hereinafter referred to as the Commission, is hereby created. The 
Commission shall be organized within thirty (30) days after the approval of this Act and shall 
exist for the term of two (2) years after its organization. Such amounts as may be necessary 
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solely and exclusively for the organizational and operational expenses of the commission 
shall be set aside from the amount herein appropriated. 
SECTION 5. Composition of the Commission. - The Commission shall be composed 
of the Cabinet Officer for Regional Development (CORD) as Chairman, with the following as 
members: the Chairman of the Regional Development Council of Region 6 ,  the Regional 
Directors of the Departments of Public Works and Highways, Agriculture, Education, 
Health, and Social Welfare and Development, the Area Manager of the National Housing 
Authority, the Presidential Assistant for Western Visayas, two (2) members representing the 
Local Government Units to be appointed by the President, and two (2) members of the 
House of Representatives both from Region VI to be appointed by the Speaker of the House 
of Representatives. 
SEC. 6 
Powers and Functions of the Commission. The Commission shall have the 
following powers: 
a. 
Formulate policies and plans for relief operations; reconstruction, rehabilitation 
and construction, rehabilitation and construction of public infrastructure, livelihood and 
other social support services in harmony with plans and policies of the National 
Government; 
Prioritize and coordinate the implementation of the various programs and projects of 
the Commission. 
Coordinate and consult with concerned national and local officials as well as 
accredited non-government organizations (NGOs) in the determination of priorities 
and the implementation o the programs and projects of the Commission; 
Call upon any deparyment, office, instrumentality, agency, or political subdivision of 
the Government for assistance as may be needed and 
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(d) 
Perform such powers and functions as may be necessary and proper to carry out the 
purpose of this Act. 
SEC. 7. Secretariat of the Commission. - The Regional Development Council of 
Region 6 shall sellre as the Secretariat of the Commission and shall assist the Commission in 
carrying out its functions. 
SEC. 8. Implementing Rules and Regulafions. - Within fifteen (15) days from the 
effectivity of this Act, the President, with the assistance of the National Disaster 
Coordinating Council (NDCC), shall issue the implementing rules and regulations to 
effectively carry out the provisions of this Act. 
SEC. 9. Submission of Reports to Congress, The Commission shall submit to the 
President and to Congress, through the Committee on Finance of the Senate and the 
Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives, a detailed quarterly report on 
the funds allocated indicating the amount released, obligated and disbursed for: 
(a) 
Aid, relief, reconstruction, rehabilitation, social support and livelihood services, 
including the list of names of approved individual beneficiaries, contractors and other 
service providers, and the evaluation of the effectiveness of the delivery systems of 
such services; and 
Construction, repair and/or reconstruction of infrastructure, projects including the list 
of contractors, and projects being financed, and the accomplishment thereof. 
SEC. 10. Repealing Clause. - All laws, presidential, decrees and issuances, executives 
orders, rules and regulations or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are 
hereby repealed or modified accordingly 
(b) 
SEC. 11. 
Effectivity. - 
This Act shall take effect immediately after its 
publication in two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
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