ANTIQUE – The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) has reinforced the province’s rescue and relief capabilities after approving several key resolutions aimed at enhancing disaster preparedness, improving response operations, and ensuring efficient fund management.
The measures were adopted during the council’s first quarter meeting on February 26, held at the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) in Binirayan Hills.
Through Resolution No. 02-2026, the council endorsed the recommended programs, projects, and activities (PPAs) under the Calendar Year 2025 Special Trust Fund (STF). The resolution authorizes Governor Paolo S. Javier, PDRRMC chairperson, to identify, prioritize, appropriate, finalize, and approve the implementation of the proposed PPAs.
The STF programming will utilize the unexpended balance or savings of the Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund (LDRRMF) for CY 2025 amounting to P27,298,580. Priority allocations include the procurement of a rescue vehicle and heavy equipment such as a boom truck; stockpiling of food and non-food relief items; operationalization and enhancement of the Emergency Operations Center (EOC); upgrading of training equipment for the Antique Training and Assessment Institute (ATAI); acquisition of additional protective gear for responders; and purchase of a generator set.
Under Resolution No. 03-2026, the council also programmed P4,413,209.72 in available supplemental budgets under the LDRRMF for priority disaster risk reduction and management (DRRM) projects. The amount consists of P1,376,961.10 from Supplemental Budget No. 2 (CY 2024), P1,550,000 from Supplemental Budget No. 5 (CY 2024), and P1,486,248.62 from Supplemental Budget No. 8 (CY 2025). These funds will support infrastructure gap interventions, enhancement of emergency response capabilities, and prepositioning of relief goods and logistics. The council stressed that all programming must strictly align with the approved Annual Investment Plan (AIP) and Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Plan (LDRRMP).
Meanwhile, Resolution No. 04-2026 endorsed the realignment of two PPAs under the CY 2025 LDRRMF to urgent and priority DRRM initiatives. The matter will be forwarded to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Antique for review and approval.
To ensure fiscal accountability and maximize available resources, the council passed Resolution No. 05-2026 directing a joint technical review and reconciliation of identified balances, savings, and unutilized appropriations under the LDRRMF, including calamity funds and the STF. The review team will include representatives from the Finance Committee, Office of the Provincial Accountant, Office of the Provincial Budget Officer, Office of the Provincial Planning and Development Coordinator, Provincial Procurement Management Unit, Office of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Officer, and the Office of the Provincial Engineer. The team has been tasked to submit recommendations for possible reprogramming and realignment.
As presented during the meeting, the combined status of the calamity funds and the STF reflects a total allotment budget of P300,131,595.85. Of this amount, P53,227,065.10 remains unobligated, while P13,018,643.79 is currently available for reprogramming, subject to assessment and approval. Officials noted that although significant balances remain from prior-year allocations, the majority of the total budget has already been obligated, leaving limited fiscal space. Aging funds from 2020 to 2022 were also flagged for immediate policy action. Final figures may increase or decrease depending on the outcome of the joint technical review.
The council also discussed several key agenda items, including a recommendation to lift the declaration of a state of calamity in the province due to Tropical Cyclone “Opong,” updates on the operations of the Antique Training and Assessment Institute pursuant to Provincial Ordinance No. 2020-223 and Executive Order No. 14, s. 2026 designating Broderick Train, PGDH-LDRRMO, as institute director, as well as operational updates of the Office of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, including standard operating procedures and protocols, and upcoming major activities and partnerships./PN
