FRANK EATS UP CALAMITY FUND

UNEDITED SAMPLE NEWS ARTICLE
By Jose Mari Hall Lanuza
IV-Enrico Fermi


Only six months through the year, almost the Philippines’ entire calamity fund has deteriorated. Six months more to go, but only P3 billion are left from the P15 billion annual calamity funds. This means that the funds will be fully utilized soon and the government will have to look for more funding for the projects.

Usually the Philippines uses up all of its calamity funds after 20 typhoons or less in a year. But with the case of typhoon Frank, the expenses and damages already amounted to P12 billion. Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Anthony Golez said that the President’s calamity fund had been tapped for the relief and rehabilitation efforts in provinces in the aftermath of the three typhoons that had already hit the country earlier this year, including typhoon Frank.

National Disaster Coordinating Council Administrator Glen Rabonza reported to President Arroyo that the damage to agricultural products alone, mostly from Iloilo and Aklan, already cost around P5 billion. The DepED reported that damage to school buildings cost around P506 million. Loans were also given to fishermen who were rescued from the 22 fishing vessels that capsized and six other ships that ran aground.

PAGASA started monitoring a low pressure area a few days before it was upgraded to typhoon Frank on June 18. Typhoon Frank, or Fengshen, first made landfall in Samar then traveled northwest. After a while it shifted its course and went west a little more than expected. It was supposed to reach Mindoro Province, but it again shifted its course northward and went toward Metro Manila. Typhoon Frank crossed Metro Manila between 5 am and 6 am Sunday. This was confirmed by eyewitness reports of the weather becoming suddenly calm after strong winds and rains in Quezon City, Marikina and other nearby areas.

Frank has undoubtedly caused such great havoc to the people of the Philippines, killing an estimate of over 700 people and causing mudslides and landslides. The most tragic accident caused by Frank was probably the sinking of the vessel Princess of the Stars. Many people were killed as the ferry traveled through rough waves , and then capsized, all because of typhoon Frank. Frank’s damages to fishing vessels and infrastructures were determined to be around P4.27 billion.

We are only halfway through the year. Less than 5 typhoons have already hit our country, and our funds are running low. We can only hope that the next calamity would not be as tragic. It will be hard for the whole country to cope with another super typhoon.