The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has released 11.6 percent of the funds appropriated for disaster risk reduction and management, as of April 30, according to data released by the agency yesterday.
The DBM said in a statement it has released P2.91 billion in allotments of the P25.14 billion available appropriation of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund (NDRRMF).
The agency said it is also processing an additional P2.78 billion based on recent approvals from the Office of the President (OP) covering disaster-related programs and projects.
The DBM said the remaining P19.445 billion appropriations will be utilized based on the specific purposes and allotments which will be released by the DBM to appropriate departments and agencies upon receipt of the corresponding approvals from the OP.
Meanwhile, the DBM assured the public that sufficient funds are made available to departments and agencies for programs and projects in response to the coronaviruspandemic.
Aside from the regular appropriations under the 2021 General Appropriations Act (GAA) and the continuing 2020 GAA, the total amount of P189.44 billion in allotments pursuant to the Bayanihan to Recover as One Act may still be utilized until June 30, 2021, the DBM said.
This is also on top of the P60.605 billion additional allotments released to the Department of Health for foreign-assisted projects, particularly on the procurement of vaccines and other essential equipment and supplies, the agency said.
“The NDRRMF will be tapped whenever there are additional funding requirements to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic which may not be covered by all available funding sources,” the DBM said. – Angela Celis
