By Ben Rosario Six Batangas lawmakers yesterday filed a bill proposing the allocation of P30 billion supplemental budget for relief and recovery programs of communities devastated by the January 12 Taal Volano eruption. Authors of the bill said House Bill 5998 seeks to appropriate additional funds for disaster relief and recovery operations of the government but the amount will be exclusively allocated for Taal-ravaged areas. The legislative proposal was not read on first reading yesterday as the House leadership agreed to await a similar bill for supplemental budget that is expected to be submitted soon by Malacananang, Deputy Speaker Conrado Estrella III said. Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano said the Lower House has already declared its commitment to support proposals for additional allocation for disaster recovery operations. HB 5998 was authored by Deputy Speakers Vilma Recto and Raneo Abu, together with Reps. Lianda Bolilia, Elenita Ermita Buhain, Ma. Theresa V. Collantes, and Mario Vittorio Marino, all of Batangas province. “This bill seeks to appropriate P30 billion to fund the much needed support to families and communities affected by the eruption of Taal Volcano to include immediate relief to affected individuals and families, establish resettlement centers, home sites and town sites for displaced families; provide livelihood and employment opportunities for local residents,” the authors said in the explanatory note of the measure. They said the amount will help “expedite the return to normalcy of affected localities.” The amount sought is similar to President Rodrigo Duterte’s estimate of the financial help Batangas, Cavite, and Quezon might need to address recovery efforts for the constituents. The bill provides that the President shall have the authority to approve expenditures upon the recommendation of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council. The release of funds may be allowed only until December 31, 2022, HB 5998 states.