FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
Second Regular Session 
) 
SENATE 
i 
Introduced by Senator Juan Miguel F. Zubiri 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Philippines lies at the typhoon belt of Asia and the Pacific. It also lies 
at the crosshairs of three major bodies of water, namely the Pacific Ocean; South 
China Sea and Sulawesi Sea from where these typhoons gather strength, and 
render more rains. 
These typhoons and the consequent damages that they bring are regular 
disasters, such that relief, reconstruction and rehabilitation activities have 
become essential budgetary items of the National Government and concerned 
Local Government Units. 
However, the country has of late experienced extreme weather conditions 
such as the so-called super-typhoons characterized by stronger winds and 
heavier precipitationhainfall, 
When the country was hit by typhoons Milenyo, Paeng, Reming and 
Seniang, we sought a wide-arching and comprehensive program to address the 
needs of affected populace and rebuild the various types of infrastructure. The 
relief, reconstruction and rehabilitation was carried out by national agencies and 
Local Government Units as part of the Calamity Fund and Calamity Assistance 
and Rehabilitation Effort (CARE). 
The P13.3 Billion damage wrought by typhoon Frank is as disastrous as 
those of the four previous typhoons. The National Disaster Coordinating Council 
reports the following damages: 
P7.542 billion in damage to agriculture, of which P2.654 billion is on 
account of fisheries resource and facilities loss; 
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P5.779 billion, in infrastructure, of which P4.239 billion is on account of 
roads and bridges; 
92,129 houses destroyed and 322,010 damaged; and 
834,562 affected families or 4,195,665 persons, of which 518,107 families 
or 2,462,310 persons were displaced. 


Typhoon Frank affected a wide swath of the Philippines; specifically, 5,855 
villages in 49 provinces. The death at 557 continues to rise as well as 826 
injured and 26 still missing. 
Worse, Panay Island has been hit most badly. The problem is aggravated 
by the incapacity of the Local Government Units to shoulder the relief, 
reconstruction and rehabilitation by themselves. 
Donations from local and international sources show the goodwill and 
outpouring of sympathy for the victims. However, the damages need consistent 
and long-term availability of material, financial and logistical resources that 
cannot be sustained by donations alone. 
Panay is a major agricultural, agro-industrial and tourism area in the 
country. It is vital to the country's food security. Thus, we need to at least bring 
back Panay Island comparative to its situation prior to the devastation of typhoon 
Frank. 
Therefore, this Bill seeks to address the need for relief, reconstruction and 
rehabilitation in Panay Island and Negros Occidental from the damages wrought 
by typhoon Frank. 
Hence, approval of this bill is earnestly sought. 
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FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
Second Regular Session 
1 
SENATE 
S. No. 2457 
Introduced by Senator JUAN MIGUEL F. ZUBlRl 
AN ACT 
APPROPRIATING THE AMOUNT OF SIX BILLION PESOS 
FOR THE REHABILITATION OF THE PROVINCES OF AKLAN, ANTIQUE, 
CAPIZ AND lLOlL0 ALL IN PANAY ISLAND AND IN NORTHERN NEGROS 
OCCIDENTAL DUE TO THE DAMAGES CAUSED BY TYPHOON FRANK 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines 
in Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as "The Paglaum Fund 
of 2008." 
SECTION 2. Appropriation. - An amount of SIX BILLION PESOS (PHP 
6,000,000,000.) is hereby appropriated for the rehabilitation of the Provinces of 
Aklan, Antique, Capiz and lloilo all in Panay Island, and in Northern Negros 
Occidental, due to the damages caused by Typhoon Frank. 
It shall be called the Paglaum Fund or the "Fund". 
The amount herein appropriated is separate from the regular appropriations 
for the above mentioned provinces to be provided for under the 2009 
Appropriations Act. 
SECTION 3. Use of Funds. - The amount shall cover the rehabilitation, 
repair and reconstruction of roads, bridges, irrigation systems, school buildings, 
government buildings, sea ports and airports, Department of Health and regional 
hospitals, and other infrastructures; purchase of school desks, textbooks and 
workbooks, hospital equipment, supplies and medicines; purchase of relocation 
sites and construction of housing units; and funding for the Comprehensive 
Integrated Delivery of Social Services (CIDSS) under the Department of Social 
Welfare and Development, livelihood programs and support to farmers and 
fishermen, and other agricultural support programs. 
SECTION 4. Creation of a Paglaum Fund Commission. - The Paglaum 
Fund Commission is hereby created and hereinafter referred to as the 
"Commission", to be composed of Region 6's Regional Development Council 
Chairman as Chairman and the Regional Directors of the Department of Public 
Works and Highways (DPWH), Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of 


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Education (DepEd), Department of Health (DOH), Department of Social Welfare 
and Development (DSWD) and the Area Manager of the National Housing 
Authority (NHA), as members, and two (2) members from the Local Government 
Units and two (2) Members of the House of Representatives, all from Region 6, 
and to be appointed by the President. 
The members of the Commission shall not receive any remuneration or 
compensation in relation to their tasks in the Commission. 
SECTION 5. Powers and Functions offhe Commission. - The Commission 
shall identify the projects to be funded from the Fund and submit the same to the 
President for approval. 
The Commission may accept proposals for funding from the local 
government units, other government agencies and the private sector, such as but 
not limited to, non-governmental organizations, people's organizations and the 
business sector, and decide which projects will be funded from the Fund for 
approval of the President. 
The Commission may also conduct consultations from the different sectors 
in the affected areas in Region 6 to help them identify the projects to be funded 
from the Fund. 
After the President has approved the projects submitted by the Commission 
for funding, it shall publish such list in the internet through a website created for 
the purpose, in the local governments units' posting areas and in the Philippine 
Information Agency's website. 
The Commission shall identify the projects to be funded from the Fund 
within two (2) years upon the effectivity of this Act and functus officio cease to 
exist. 
SECTION 6. Quonim. - Six (6) members of the Commission shall 
constitute a quorum to transact business. The decision of the majority of members 
constituting a quorum shall be carried. 
SECTION 7. 
Secretariat of the Commission. - The Secretariat of the 
Commission shall be the Regional Development Council of Region 6. 
The 
Secretariat shall assist the Commission in carrying out its functions. 
SECTION 8. Administrative Fund of the Commission. - An amount of Ten 
Million Pesos (PHP 10,000,000.) frorn the Fund is hereby allocated for the 
administrative expenses of the Commission. 
SECTION 9. Submission to Congress. - The Commission shall submit to 
the Congress of the Philippines, through the Chairmen of the Committee on 
Appropriations, in the case of the House of Representatives, and Committee on 
Finance, in the case of the Senate, an itemized list of projects to be funded under 
the Fund within thirty days from the approval of the President. 
No funding for specific project shall be released unless the project has been 
submitted to the Congress of the Philippines. 
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SECTION 10. Repealing Clause. 
All laws, presidential decrees and 
issuances, executive orders, rules and regulations or parts thereof inconsistent 
with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly. 
SECTION 11. Separability Clause. If, for any reason or reasons, any part 
or provision of this Act shall be held to be unconstitutional or invalid, other parts or 
provisions hereof which are not affected thereby shall continue to be in full force 
and effect. 
SECTION 12. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after 
its publication in two national newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
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