DBM: P6 billion of promised P10-billion aid for Odette victims released before yearend

The Philippine government will have released by the end of the year P6 billion out of the P10 billion which President Rodrigo Duterte committed for relief efforts in communities affected by Typhoon Odette.

Acting Budget Secretary  Tina Rose Marie Canda said P2 billion from the Duterte's contingency funds had been released—P1 billion on Friday and P1 billion on Monday.

The P4 billion will be released within the week to local governments, which will in turn ensure that the funds reach the beneficiaries in areas damaged by the typhoon.

The remaining P4 billion will be released in 2022, and will be sourced from the P5.024-trillion 2022 budget, which is set to be signed by Duterte by December 30, according to Senator Christopher “Bong” Go.

‘Yung paggamit kasi ng calamity fund or DRRMF (disaster risk reduction and management fund), merong proseso ‘yan. Noong nagkaroon ng Odette, bale prinaioritize muna ni pangulo ‘yung Odette,” Canda said during the Laging Handa virtual briefing.

[The utilization of the calamity or DRRMF has a process. When Odette hit, this was prioritized by the President.]

Canda said that relief efforts would also continue or those who were hit by earlier storms such as Typhoon Ulysses.

“Ang mangyayari diyan, kasi mayroong mga ahensya na puwedeng gamitin ‘yung kanilang sariling budget, lalo na kung repairs ‘yan o mga livelihood. Puwedeng i-charge ‘yan sa 2022 nationala budget,” she said.

[What will happen is that agencies can use their own budget allocations, especially for repairs or livelihood. This can be charged in the 2022 national budget.]

In the same interview, Canda hinted at the possibility of having some provisions in the 2022 national budget vetoed, but declined to identify which ones prior to the signing.

“I don't think I am in a position to discuss it at this point kasi hindi pa napipirmahan, na-re-review, hindi ko alam kung napiramahan na, parang nirereview pa nila yung veto na yan,” she said.

“Hindi pa ako this point comfortable kung idi-discuss ko na yung i-ve-veto pero it’s very few if I’m not mistaken,” she elaborated.

[I don’t think I am in a position to discuss it at this point because it has not yet been signed, not yet reviewed. I do not know if it has been signed, as they are still likely reviewing the veto. I am not comfortable at this point to discuss what will be vetoed, but it’s very few if I’m not mistaken.]

Presidential Spokesperson Karlo Nograles last week said Duterte vowed to raise P10 billion to aid the victims of Typhoon Odette, a day after his visit to victims in Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental.

Parts of the Visayas and Mindanao have been severely hit by Odette which entered the country earlier this month. It left the Philippine Area of Responsibility  after causing “total devastation” in areas under its path. —NB, GMA News