P6.8-B calamity fund still available: DBM

FILE: A man rushes to get on a public utility jeepney during a heavy downpour along Taft Avenue in Manila. (PNA photo by Alfred Frias)

MANILA – Government agencies involved in disaster response may use the PHP6.8-billion calamity fund that is still available for this year, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) said on Thursday.

This, after the DBM gave an update on the status of the country’s national disaster risk reduction and management fund (NDRRMF), noting that the remaining fund balance for 2022 is PHP6,863,219,462.

“One cannot always predict the frequency, magnitude and impact of any disaster. But at all times, the DBM believes that it is always better to be prepared,” the DBM said in a statement.

“In the aftermath of natural disasters and other calamities, concerned agencies can tap on the remaining PHP6,863,219,462 in NDRRMF for the rest of 2022, subject to applicable provisions in the 2022 General Appropriations Act (GAA),” it added.

The statement came a day after President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. signed Proclamation 84 placing the regions of Calabarzon, Bicol, and Western Visayas, as well as the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) under a state of calamity for six months in the aftermath of Severe Tropical Storm Paeng.

Based on Proclamation 84, the four regions have been put under a state of calamity to enable the government and the private sector to hasten the rescue, recovery, relief and rehabilitation efforts.

The proclamation also aims to give the national government and the local government units (LGUs) enough time to appropriate funds for rescue, recovery, relief and rehabilitation efforts.

The DBM explained that the remaining PHP6.8 billion is part of the total PHP20 billion budget allocated for disaster risk reduction and management for this year.

“Please note that under the 2022 GAA, PHP19 billion was allocated for programmed appropriations in the NDRRMF, while PHP1 billion has been set aside for the Marawi Recovery, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Program (MRRP),” it said.

Strengthening gov’t response efforts

The DBM also noted a significant increase in the 2023 NDRRMF to improve the government’s response to calamities.

The proposed calamity fund for 2023 was at PHP30 billion, higher than the PHP20 billion approved for 2022, the agency emphasized.

The DBM added that on top of the PHP30 billion, there was also a proposed PHP1-billion budgetary allocation for the Marawi Siege Victims Compensation Fund under the 2023 National Expenditure Program (NEP).

“This is an PHP11-billion increase from the current 2022 GAA NDRRMF Budget of PHP20 billion,” the agency said.

“The increase is in adherence to the directive of the President to transform the economy into something that is proactive rather than reactive, and to strengthen the country’s readiness and response efforts in times of disasters,” it added.

Senate Finance Committee chairperson Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara on Wednesday said the Senate is currently reviewing and making adjustments to the proposed calamity fund for 2023.

Citing the recent earthquakes and typhoons, Angara said the Senate finance panel is open to changes that will help improve the government’s response to calamities.