Amending R.A. No. 7637 Re: Appropriation of Funds for Mt. Pinatubo Victims

November 9, 1993

REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7657

AN ACT TO AMEND REPUBLIC ACT NUMBERED SEVENTY-SIX HUNDRED THIRTY-SEVEN ENTITLED "AN ACT APPROPRIATING THE SUM OF TEN BILLION PESOS FOR THE AID, RELIEF, RESETTLEMENT, REHABILITATION AND LIVELIHOOD SERVICES AS WELL AS INFRASTRUCTURE SUPPORT FOR THE VICTIMS OF THE ERUPTION OF MT. PINATUBO, CREATING THE MT. PINATUBO ASSISTANCE, RESETTLEMENT AND DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES"

SECTION 1. Section 5 of Republic Act Numbered Seventy-Six Hundred Thirty Seven is hereby amended to read as follows: aisa dc

"Sec. 5. Appropriations Clause. — To carry out the purposes of this Act, the sum of Ten Billion pesos (P10,000,000,000) is hereby appropriated out of any available funds in the National Treasury not otherwise appropriated.

"Disbursement of said Ten billion pesos (P10,000,000,000) shall be programmed as follows:

"(a) From the approval of this Act to December 31, 1993, the sum of Six billion five hundred million pesos (P6,500,000,000), Three and half billion pesos (P3,500,000,000) of which shall be for resettlement and livelihood projects and Three billion pesos (P3,000,000,000) for vital infrastructure: Provided, That not more than One billion five hundred million pesos (P1,500,000,000) shall be spent on dikes. cd i

"(b) For the year 1994, the sum of Two billion pesos (P2,000,000,000), One billion pesos of which shall be for resettlement and livelihood projects and One billion pesos (P1,000,000,000) for vital infrastructure.

"(c) For the year 1995, the sum of One billion five hundred million pesos (P1,500,000,000), Five hundred million (P500,000,000) of which shall be for resettlement and livelihood projects and one billion pesos (P1,000,000,000), for vital infrastructure."

SECTION 2. Section 7(b) and (c) of the same Act is hereby amended to read as follows: acd

"(b) To make a determination of the areas where the lahar flow may be diverted to spare communities and/or minimize damage to lives, habitation, infrastructure, agricultural and other resources upon thorough consultation with lahar experts, scientists, and other technical consultants and personnel;

"(c) To prioritize, coordinate and supervise the implementation of the various programs and projects of the Commission;"

SECTION 3. A new paragraph is hereby inserted in Section 7 to read as follows:

"(j) Any provision of law to the contrary notwithstanding, the Commission is authorized to re-loan repayments of loans of victim families under the various programs of the Commission, for the purpose of expanding the benefits to other victims who have not availed of said benefits from the funds administered by the Commission;" acd

SECTION 4. Section 7(j) of the same Act is amended to read as Section 7(k).

SECTION 5. A new paragraph is hereby inserted after the first paragraph of Section 10 to read as follows:

"Any provisions of law to the contrary notwithstanding, the public bidding for the award of contracts for infrastructure under this Act shall be conducted by a separate pre-qualification bids and awards committee (PBAC) to be composed of the Chairman of the Mt. Pinatubo Commission as Chairman, one (1) representative each from the Department of Public Works And Highways (DPWH) and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), two (2) representatives from the non- government sector (NGO) as members, and in the case of resettlement projects, a representative of the National Housing Authority (NHA), all to be appointed by the Chairman of the Mt. Pinatubo Commission."

SECTION 6. Separability Clause. — If, for any reason or reasons, any part or provision of this Act shall be declared as unconstitutional or invalid, other parts or provisions hereof which are not affected thereby shall continue to be in full force and effect.

SECTION 7. Effectivity Clause. — This Act shall take effect upon its publication in at least two (2) national newspapers of general circulation.

Approved: November 9, 1993 cdt

Published in Malaya and the Philippine Times Journal on November 13, 1993.