Senate eyes creating 'Build Back Better Fund' to reconstruct earthquake-damaged homes

The Senate aims to create a 'Build Back Better Fund' to help with the reconstruction of houses damaged by the recent earthquakes, Senate finance committee chairman Sherwin Gatchalian said Sunday.

“Sa susunod na taon naman, nag-iisip kami na mag-carve out ng pondo na tinatawag na 'Build Back Better Fund' para makatulong doon sa mga tinamaan ng lindol tulad ng Bogo City,” Gatchalian told Super Radyo dzBB.

(For next year, we’re thinking of carving out funds for a “Build Back Better Fund” to help those affected by the earthquake, like Bogo City, Cebu.)

A house damaged by the magnitude 6.9 Cebu earthquake last Sept. 30, 2025. Courtesy: Julius Villarosa via 24 Oras

“Merong fund na tinatawag na 'Local Support Fund' at gusto namin mag-carve out doon ng amount para makatulong sa pagpapatayo ng bahay nila,” he added.

(There is what we call “Local Support Fund,” and we want to carve out an amount from it to help with the reconstruction of damaged houses.)

Gatchalian reported that this “Build Back Better Fund” will not be a new item in the 2026 national budget.

“Maglalagay lang kami ng bagong criteria at karagdagang possibilities or puwedeng gamitin 'yung pondo (tulad ng pagsasaayos ng bahay),” he said.

(We will just put a new criterion and additional possibilities or funds that can be used in these cases, like rebuilding homes.)

“Posible rin 'yan (from the flood control projects allocations) pero nakita ko naman na mayroon namang pondong nakatabi para sa ganitong pagreresponde. Ito nga ‘yung local government support fund. Mayroon ding NDRRMC fund at saka may contingency fund pa,” he added.

(It is also possible that the funds will be coming from the flood control project allocation, but we have funds for disaster response. This is the local government support fund. We also have the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council fund and contingency fund.)

According to Gatchalian, government agencies handling disaster response have P182 billion of funds left.

“Sa tingin ko sapat na ito until the end of the year. Hindi pa naman sila humihingi ng supplemental budget dahil dito,” the senator said.

(I think it will be enough until the end of the year. They haven’t requested a supplemental budget for this yet.)

The Senate also plans to allocate funds to fix classrooms damaged by the earthquakes, with about 300 classrooms in Cebu and at least 540 damaged schools in Davao Oriental. —KG, GMA Integrated News