DBM hopes Congress can include in 2021 budget rehabilitation support after “Rolly;” available disaster fund P3.6B

November 3, 2020

The Philippine government has still over P3 billion available fund for its disaster management until the end of the year, according to the Department of Budget and Management.

This as Budget Secretary Wendel Avisado expressed hope that Congress, which still deliberating the proposed 2021 budget, could include expenditure for government's response after the devastation brought by Super Typhoon "Rolly."

"The bigger requirements as a result of - and the effects of Super Typhoon Rolly...we will work this out with Congress how to address this because the discussion about the 2021 national budget is still ongoing and we will see if we can still find ways and Congress will understand the needs of our people in relation to the eventual passage and approval of the 2021 national budget," he said during a televised Cabinet meeting with President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday night.

Currently, Avisado said the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund stood at P3.622 billion after the P5 billion augmentation from the Bayanihan to Recover As One Act or Bayanihan 2.

He noted that for the whole 2020, the total NDRRM budget was at P16 billion.

Avisado said that based on the General Appropriations Act of 2020, the following agencies have their respective quick response fund: Department of Agriculture, P1.5 billion; Department of Education, P2.1 billion; Department of Health, P600 million; Department of Public Works and Highways, P1 billion; Department of Social Welfare and Development, P1.250 billion; and National Electrification Administration, P100 million.

When the quick respond fund is depleted, he said the DBM is replenishing it so the agency can immediately respond to the calamity.

As of Monday night, the Budget chief said his office has yet to receive any request for fund replenishment.

But he added, "We expect in due time, they will ask for augmentation because for sure their funds have been depleted."

Avisado said his office could act on the request without anymore approval from the Office of the President. Celerina Monte/DMS