Two partylist lawmakers have proposed the establishment of a funding program for local government units (LGUs) to be used exclusively for hazard mitigation strategies and initiatives aimed at saving lives and reducing risks and damages from calamities.

Representatives Anthony Bravo and Cresente Paez, both from the COOP-NATCCO partylist group, said their proposed "Pre-Disaster Hazard Mitigation Enhancement Program Act" would provide LGUs with funds for projects that have direct, on-the-ground impact for residents of low- to moderate-income homes, apartment dwellers and small-business owners.

COOP-NATCCO is among the partylist allies of the NUP under the Coalition for Peace and Development 

House Bill 2945  co-authored by Paez and Bravo provides that the LGU recipient of the  hazard mitigation fund grant  “shall carry out any repair, construction, renovation or retrofit assisted by such grant in accordance with the following: applicable standards of safety and sanitation; applicable codes, specifications and standards of the National Building Code; and safe land use and construction practice standards.”

"The eligible entity or LGU should have a mitigation plan approved by the Defense Secretary. Under our proposal, the LGU implements public awareness campaigns to encourage improvements in structures to mitigate hazards relating to natural disasters, and takes steps to encourage mitigation actions with respect to repetitive loss structures within the jurisdiction of such entity," said Bravo,  one of the vice chairpersons of the House committee on reforestation.

The bill states that  LGUs are required  to allocate the following:  50 percent of the grant amounts to programs that address mitigation needs of single family housing units; 30 percent of the grant amounts to programs that address the mitigation needs of multi-family housing units and residential rental dwelling units; 20 percent of the grant amounts to programs that address the mitigation needs of small businesses.

HB 2945  is now  pending before the House committee on national defense and security.