DBM: P2.9B released for disaster, calamity response

The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) on Tuesday said that is has so far released almost P3 billion for disaster and calamity response programs as of the end of April this year.

In a statement, the DBM said that as of April 30, 2021 it has already released a total of P2.909-billion in allotments.

The amount is comprised of P2.470 billion which went to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (NDRRM) program and another P439.837 million went to Marawi Recovery, Rehabilitation, and Reconstruction Program (MRRRP).

The DBM said it is also processing additional P2.779-billion based on recent approvals from the Office of the President (OP) covering disaster-related programs and projects in response to calamities occurring from the 2018 to 2021.

The amount also includes allotments for the MRRP and the Comprehensive Aid to Repair Earthquake Damage (CARED).

The Budget department said that with the enactment of the Fiscal Year 2021 General Appropriations Act (GAA) or the Republic Act (RA) No. 11518, and the extension of the validity of the FY 2020 GAA, the NDRRMF has a total available appropriation of P25.135-billion as of January 01, 2021.

The amount is broken down as follows:

It said the remaining P19.445-billion appropriations will be utilized based on the specific purposes and allotments which will be released by the DBM to appropriate departments and agencies upon receipt of the corresponding approvals from the OP.

“The utilization of these appropriations is covered by pertinent Special Provisions of the GAA based on their specific purposes and releases are made by the DBM based on the approval of the Office of the President (OP) on the recommendation of the NDRRM Council,” the DBM said.

Aside from specific purposes such as the MRRRP and CARED, the Budget department said that the appropriations under the NDRRM program “may be used for disaster risk reduction or mitigation, prevention and preparedness activities, as well as reconstruction, rehabilitation, repair, aid, relief and other works or services, in connection with the occurrence of natural or human-induced calamities, epidemics as declared by the DOH, crises resulting from armed conflicts, insurgency, terrorism, and other catastrophes occurring in the current or two preceding years.”

The DBM, likewise, assured the public that sufficient funds are made available to departments and agencies for programs and projects in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Aside from their regular appropriations under the FY 2021 GAA and the continuing FY 2020 GAA, the total amount of P189.442-billion in allotments pursuant to the Bayanihan to Recover as One Act (Bayanihan II) may still be utilized until June 30, 2021,” it said,

“This is also on top of the P60.605-billion additional allotments released to the Department of Health for foreign-assisted projects, particularly on the procurement of vaccines and other essential equipment and supplies,” it added.

The DBM noted that the NDRRMF will be tapped whenever there are additional funding requirements to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic which may not be covered by all available funding sources.—AOL, GMA News