DBM says Duterte ordered release of P1B from OP fund for Odette-hit areas

President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered the release of P1 billion from his office to be distributed to areas hit by Typhoon Odette, a top official of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) said Thursday.

“The President gave the instructions to release immediately P1 billion to affected areas in Regions IV-B, VI, VII, VIII, X, and XIII,” DBM officer-in-charge Undersecretary Tina Canda told GMA News Online.

Asked when the funds will be downloaded to the typhoon-hit LGUs, Canda said, “Today or tomorrow at the latest.”

The amount is charged against the Office of the President’s contingent fund, the DBM official said.

Duterte has promised to raise P10 billion for the rehabilitation and recovery efforts in the typhoon-affected areas, acting presidential spokesperson Karlo Nograles said on Tuesday.

The President made the pledge after he claimed that government coffers had been depleted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Nograles said the President’s comments were made to show Filipinos the huge challenge the country is facing.

Meanwhile, the Department of Finance will draw $80 million or about P4 billion from the World Bank’s $500-million standby credit line extended to the Philippines to support disaster relief and rehabilitation efforts in provinces devastated by the tropical cyclone. 

At least 258 people have been reported dead, 47 are missing, and 568 have been injured due to Odette, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said Thursday.

A total of 2,196,432 people or 585,029 families were affected by the typhoon in 4,566 barangays.

The affected regions were Mimaropa, Bicol, Western Visayas, Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Zamboanga, Northern Mindanao, Davao, Soccsksargen, Caraga, and Bangsamoro.

A total of 486,361 people or 122,575 families were staying inside 2,535 evacuation centers, while 123,341 individuals or 29,906 families were staying in the houses of their relatives and friends.

According to the NDRRMC, at least 136,369 houses were damaged — 83,633 partially and 52,736 totally. — VBL, GMA News