THE government has assured there are available funds on standby to support disaster-stricken areas following the consecutive natural calamities that battered the country in recent months.
The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) made this statement on Thursday amid concerns about some agencies depleted Quick Response Funds (QRF), due to the back-to-back weather disturbances.
The QRF is a built-in stand-by fund used to cover preparatory activities, relief and rehabilitation in case of disasters and calamities.
Under the 2024 General Appropriations Act (GAA), the existing National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund (NDRRMF) balance can be used to replenish agency QRF.
Agencies may request for replenishment from the DBM once they are able to utilize at least 50 percent of their QRF.
Agencies with QRF include the Departments of Agriculture, Education, Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Interior and Local Government, Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and Health as well as the Bureau of Fire Protection, Office of Civil Defense and the Philippine Coast Guard.
“As of October 24, this fund totaled P30 billion, and it’s already with them. At that time, around P15 billion had been obligated, but now that it’s November, we see that agencies like the DSWD and DPWH have already used up their allocations. So they are now requesting replenishment,” Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman said.
The Budget Secretary explained that the concerned agencies may tap other available sources, such as the Contingent Fund, Unprogrammed Appropriations and Local Government Support Fund to augment their QRFs.
“The good news here is that we still have a Contingent Fund. We have more or less P7 billion available there. So that will be the first source we can use,” Pangandaman said.
Pangandaman also said other agencies’ QRFs have not yet been depleted.
To aid disaster relief and response, the Budget Secretary also said the agencies may utilize the available funds on their existing regular projects and programs.
She cited, as examples, the DSWD’s Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations and the DPWH’s budget for the maintenance of projects and programs.
She likewise assured that there are still existing standby funds under the Unprogrammed Appropriations which the government may tap in case the Contingent Fund would run out.
Asked about the assistance given to local government units, Pangandaman explained they can request directly from the DBM for the provision of the Local Government Support Fund- Financial Assistance to Local Government Units.
