DSWD: Replenished P625-M QRF to fund purchases for food packs

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) confirmed Saturday that the agency has received the P625 million for the replenishment of its Quick Response Fund (QRF).

"That's correct, we have received recently from DBM (Department of Budget and Management) the replenishment of our Quick Response Fund and that will be used primarily for the procurement of welfare goods so we could continue with the production of family food packs in our production house," DSWD spokesperson Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao said at a news forum in Quezon City.

The DBM announced Friday it released a total of P1.625 billion to replenish the QRFs of the DSWD and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

Of this amount, P625 million was released for the replenishment of the DSWD's QRF, while the bulk or P1 billion was released to the DPWH.

The P625 million is intended for the prepositioning of relief resources in DSWD warehouses and provision of Emergency Cash Transfer for disaster-affected families in areas declared under a state of calamity.

"We will replenish those we have already released or distributed to areas that have been affected," Dumlao said. 

"Also this will be part of our preparation for disaster response because as explained by PAGASA, last Saturday, we are still expecting several typhoons that may hit our country until the end of this year," she said.

The QRF serves as a standby fund for relief and recovery programs in order for the situation and living conditions of people in communities or areas stricken by disasters, calamities, epidemics, or complex emergencies to be normalized as quickly as possible. 

Concerned agencies may request replenishment from the DBM when the balance of the QRF has reached 50%. — VDV, GMA Integrated News