Manila: The government remains financially equipped to sustain disaster response efforts despite successive calamities, Malaca±ang assured on Monday. Palace Press Officer Claire Castro stated that the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) confirmed that even if allocations under the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (NDRRM) and Quick Response Fund (QRF) are fully exhausted, the government can immediately tap PHP12.005 billion from the Contingent Fund.
According to Philippines News Agency, Castro highlighted during a press briefing at the Palace that, “Even if our contingent fund is exhausted due to the successive calamities, we still have excess revenues and we can tap the unprogrammed appropriations from the Strengthening Assistance for Government Infrastructure Program (SAGIP).” This assurance follows a series of natural disasters that have recently affected the country.
On September 30, a magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck Cebu and neighboring provinces in the Visayas, causing landslides, infrastructure damage, and displacing several families. Just days later, on October 10, the Davao Region was hit by magnitude 7.4 and 6.8 earthquakes, leading to the destruction of homes, schools, and key road networks. Concurrently, consecutive typhoons have impacted Luzon and parts of the Visayas, resulting in floods in Metro Manila, Bicol, and Northern Luzon, which necessitated preemptive evacuations and widespread relief operations.
These events have placed significant pressure on the QRF allocations of agencies such as the Department of Social Welfare and Development and the Department of Public Works and Highways, both of which are responsible for immediate relief and rehabilitation efforts.
In response to inquiries regarding whether President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has formally requested additional emergency funds from Congress, Castro stated that there is no official communication yet. “So far, the President has yet to talk to Congress for more funds,” she said.
On the same day, President Marcos visited quake-affected communities in Davao Oriental, delivering over PHP298-million in aid. Meanwhile, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) is expediting the release of PHP145 million in emergency funds to assist families affected in Mindanao.