Govt to release 2012 calamity fund for current relief efforts

The Aquino administration is ready to release P5.95 billion in calamity funds for disaster response to the torrential rains and flooding in Luzon caused by the southwest monsoon, the Department of Budget and Management said Tuesday.

 

Budget Secretary Florencio Abad said the amount represents the balance of the government's P7.5-billion calamity fund for the year.

 

Earlier this year, the department released P2.989 billion in Quick Response Funds (QRFs) to concerned departments and agencies.

 

“These funds are readily available to enable national government agencies to immediately respond to the needs of localities and citizens affected by calamities,” Abad said. 

 

Government is ready to pour in more funds, to be taken from savings or from other budgetary allocation, if necessary, the Budget chief said. 

 

“We are ready to augment these QRFs and the Calamity Fund if needed. We have enough savings that can be realigned to support disaster response and rehabilitation activities,” he said.

 

According to the Budget Department, the 2012 expenditure program provides P7.5 billion for the Calamity Fund, plus a balance of P291.775 million has been carried over from the previous year. 

 

On top of the calamity fund, the different departments can also tap their QRFs, which the Budget Department allocated separately to them. 

 

This was unlike in previous fiscal years when the QRFs were tucked into the Calamity Fund.

 

In all, government has appropriated P10.489 billion for the Calamity Fund and QRFs, more than double the P5-billion Calamity Fund under the 2011 budget, the department said. — BM/VS, GMA News