Senator Ralph Recto on Monday said the massive flooding in Metro Manila exposed the need for gymnasiums and rescue boats as well as no cuts in the budget of the Metro Manila Development Authority.
The recent flooding, he said, exposed disaster response and resilience activities in need of funding.
“One, we need more all-weather rescue boats. This should not be only for local governments. If we are buying frigates which can sail up to Libya, we can certainly afford rescue boats which can fetch stranded people in Marikina,” Recto said.
He said one agency whose relief and rescue capabilities should be strengthened is the MMDA.
“General Danny Lim is doing a great job as chairman. Let us give him more funds to build up a stronger rapid-response unit for disasters. If there are seaborne units of the MMDA, esteros, and rivers should be cleaned during summertime, that can be into rescue teams during flooding,” Recto said.
“We can begin by stopping the almost P400-million cut in the MMDA budget for 2019. Its area of responsibility is one of the world’s top 20 biggest megapolises,” Recto also said.
Recto was referring to the agency’s proposed national government subsidy of P3.16 billion in 2019, from P3.55 billion this year.