Abad: Emergency funds ready as ‘Ruby’ sweeps through PHL

Manila Vice Mayor Isko Moreno visits the Baseco evacuation center in Tondo, Manila to ensure the safety of some 800 poorest families with the expected onslaught of tropical storm “Ruby” in Metro Manila starting Monday night (December 8, 2014). (PNA photos by Avito C. Dalan)

MANILA — The Aquino administration has ample emergency funds on the ready for 2014 and 2015 as Tropical Storm Ruby (international code name: Hagupit) continues to move across the country, Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Secretary Florencio “Butch” Abad said Monday.

“Preparation is critical in ensuring the safety of Filipinos in the face of natural disasters. The current year’s budget can fully support emergency operations as they’re needed, especially in the wake of Ruby. To date, the National and local governments have been working together to ensure that pre- and post-disaster activities are executed well.”

The Administration recently augmented the 2014 National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund (NDRRMF) with P2.61 billion for the government’s relief and emergency response activities.

Likewise, a number of government departments have Quick Response Funds (QRFs) amounting to a total of P5.34 billion ready to use specifically for this situation. Here is a breakdown of the QRFs per department:

DEPARTMENT

AVAILABLE QRFs

Department of Agriculture — P406M

Department of Education — P564M

Department of Health — P500M

Department of National Defense — P448M

Office of Civil Defense (DND)– P765M

Department of Social Welfare and Development –P1.01B

Department of Transportation and Communications — P1B

Department of Public Works and Highway — P650M

TOTAL — P5.34B

Additional funds shall be made available for relief and rehabilitation efforts once the proposed 2015 National Expenditure Program is approved in Congress and signed by the President.

FUND SOURCES IN THE 2015 GENERAL APPROPRIATIONS BILL (GAB)

Contingent Fund — P2B

National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund — P13B

QRF Breakdown:

Department of Social Welfare and Development — P1.33B

Department of National Defense — P353M

Office of Civil Defense (DND)– P530M

Department of Public Works and Highways — P800M

Department of Education — P1B

Department of Agriculture — P500M

Department of Health — P500M

Department of Transportation and Communications — P1B

National Irrigation Administration — P500M

TOTAL — P21.51B

Abad said, “The Administration isn’t acting alone here. Aid organizations, citizen groups, and ordinary Filipinos are all pitching in so we can weather this latest calamity.”

The QRFs are released at the start of the year as part of the GAA-as-release document regime, allowing government agencies to make immediate use of funds for emergency response functions. In view of Tropical Storm Ruby, the DPWH received replenishment of funds worth P650 million for their QRF last Friday.