By Joey Sem G. Dalumpines
DAVAO CITY, March 28 (PIA)- Acting City Treasurer Erwin Alparaque of this city government assured that funds will be ready once the City Mayor declares a state of calamity due to the long dry spell.
Alparaque said the city has enough funds to provide the basic services to the people when worse comes to worst.
Speaking in the Information-Speak Forum, he said that aside from the income generated from tax collections, fees and charges the city has also its Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA).
“For the local sources alone, we have already generated as much as P2.5-Billion taken from the local taxation, fees and charges and income from the economic enterprises while the IRA amounts to P4.7 Billion,” Alparaque said.
He said that under the law, a fund of 20 percent from the combined IRA and local income generated is allotted for disaster risk reduction and management.
Alparaque assured that the calamity fund for the city is intact and is allotted annually.
He said that if the long dry spell persists and impacts on the city with the destruction of crops of the farmers, the mayor can provide assistance to the affected sector.
Alparaque said that even without the formal declaration, the city has already provided assistance to the affected farmers. (PIA XI-Joey Sem G. Dalumpines)