DBM releases Albay’s internal revenue share

Albay may now use its Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund following the release of its internal revenue allotment, the Department of Budget and Management said on Wednesday.

Albay Governor Al Bichara earlier appealed to the national government for the release of funds in providing assistance to thousands of residents affected by the eruption of Mayon Volcano.

"Normally, the funds would be downloaded simultaneously to all LGUs. However, given the situation in Albay, we made a request to the Bureau of Treasury to expedite the downloading of funds to Albay,” Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno said in a statement.

Diokno said the DBM requested the Bureau of Treasury (BTr) to hasten the downloading of funds for Albay due to its situation.

The LDRRMF amounts to five percent of the local government unit's estimated revenues from regular sources, set aside to support disaster risk management activities.

Thirty percent of the LDRRMF is earmarked as a Quick Response Fund (QRF) while 70 percent is allocated for disaster prevention and mitigation, preparedness, response, rehabilitation and recovery.

Albay, as of Tuesday, has incurred expenses totaling to P21.2 million in response to the Mt. Mayon eruptions, the DBM said.

Of the P94.2 million allotted LDRRMF to Albay for 2018, P28.26 million is dedicated to Quick Response whereas P65.94 million is meant for capital outlays, along with maintenance and other operating services related to disaster prevention and mitigation, preparedness, response, rehabilitation and recovery.

The DBM noted that LGUs could also tap LDRRMF not utilized in the past five years set aside as a "trust fund."

The DBM said the P7.6 billion in Quick Response Funds available has been released to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of National Defense (DND), Department of Health (DOH), Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Department of Education (DepEd), and Department of Agriculture (DA).

These agencies can also access the NDFFMF, which has an estimated balance of P39.2 million for 2017.

Bichara had raised that the province's funds were running low in supplying food and other needs for residents who evacuated the eight-kilometer danger zone.

National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC)-Region 5 assured on Tuesday that the government propositioned enough supplies in evacuation centers in Albay and the national council has decided to send additional items to last them up to three months.

NDRRMC spokesperson Romina Marasigan explained that the NDRRMC could not  download the additional funds requested and give them to local government units.

“It is important that you have to understand na meron tayong  protocols na sinusunod lalo na sa pagbibigay ng ayuda sa ating kababayan," she had said.

On Tuesday, Bichara said their request had been "settled" as the health, social welfare, and education departments and the local government have downloaded quick response funds to reach out to displaced residents.

After a series of explosive eruptions, the number of evacuees affected by the hazardous unrest of Mt. Mayon has climbed to around 61,000, according to a Reuters report on Wednesday.

Mayon had an early morning eruption on Wednesday morning at 2:30 a.m. and another past 6 a.m.

As another hazardous eruption may possibly take place in the next coming days, Alert Level 4 remains over Mt. Mayon. —NB, GMA News