Camarines Sur 2nd district Rep. LRay Villafuerte (Rep. Villafuerte's office)

Following the unprecedented level of floods caused by typhoon "Kristine", Camarines Sur 2nd district Rep. LRay Villafuerte is batting for a P20-billlion Bicol Rehabilitation and Recovery Fund (BRRF) starting next year to help his home region get back on its feet. 

Villafuerte, the National Unity Party (NUP) president, said the single biggest undertaking that the government can carry out with this proposed BRRF was the revival of the long-discontinued Bicol River Basin Development Program (BRBDP). 

He noted that President Marcos himself, during his Oct. 26 visit to Camarines Sur, ordered the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to “revisit” as a long-term solution to the region’s chronic flooding. 

“Given the worse-than-expected damage inflicted by ‘Kristine,’ especially in CamSur where most barangays were submerged for the first time ever in above-head or roof-level floods, a special rehabilitation and recovery program and funding is crucial," the veteran congressman said. 

Villafuerte seemingly patterned his proposal to the P10 billion that was allocated for an ad hoc Commission that was put up in the 1990s to oversee the quick recuperation of Luzon provinces devastated by the eruption of Mount Pinatubo. 

But with the proposed 2025 General Appropriations Act (GAA) worth P6.352 trillion already passed by the House of Representatives before Villafuerte hoped that, “Our senators could realign funds or find new fund sources for this proposed BRRF once they take up the House-approved national budget bill when the 19th Congress reopens next week.” 

“The House of Representatives under the leadership of Speaker Martin [Romualdez] could then concur with such a funding proposal in the bicam (bicameral conference committee) process that will happen later to reconcile a final 2025 GAA bill for ratification by both chambers and then for submission to Malacañang for the President’s approval and signature into law,” Villafuerte said.   

The other legislative chamber, which has yet to approve its version of the 2025 national budget, is the Senate. 

He said that subsequent allocations for the proposed multi-year BRRF could be taken up later by senators and House members, once the total damages caused by Kristine and the commensurate necessary rehabilitation, resettlement, repair and recovery programs and projects have already been ascertained by the appropriate government agencies in consultation with the private sector. 

Last week’s storm affected 1.36 million people in 759 of Camarines Sur over 1,000 barangays, inundating 488 of these villages, of which 216 were totally submerged in floodwater. 

Over the three-day period from Oct. 20 to 23, the accumulated rainfall that Kristine dumped in the province reached 931 millimeters (mm). 

The Bicol River Basin (BRB) covers 963 barangays in 50 municipalities and cities in Camarines Sur, Albay, and Camarines Norte.