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Emergency Funds Ready as Ruby Sweeps through PH
The Aquino administration has ample emergency funds on the ready for 2014 and 2015 as Tropical Storm Ruby (international code name: Hagupit) continues to move across the country, Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Secretary Florencio “Butch” Abad said Monday.
“Preparation is critical in ensuring the safety of Filipinos in the face of natural disasters. The current year’s budget can fully support emergency operations as they’re needed, especially in the wake of Ruby. To date, the National and local governments have been working together to ensure that pre- and post-disaster activities are executed well,” Abad said in a statement.
The Administration recently augmented the 2014 National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund (NDRRMF) with P2.61 billion for the government’s relief and emergency response activities.
Likewise, a number of government departments have Quick Response Funds (QRFs) amounting to a total of P5.34 billion ready to use specifically for this situation. Here is a breakdown of the QRFs per department:
| DEPARTMENT | AVAILABLE QRFs |
|---|---|
| Department of Agriculture | P406M |
| Department of Education | P564M |
| Department of Health | P500M |
| Department of National Defense | P448M |
| Office of Civil Defense (DND) | P765M |
| Department of Social Welfare and Development | P1.01B |
| Department of Transportation and Communications | P1B |
| Department of Public Works and Highway | P650M¹ |
| TOTAL | P5.34B |
Additional funds shall be made available for relief and rehabilitation efforts once the proposed 2015 National Expenditure Program is approved in Congress and signed by the President.
| FUND SOURCES IN THE 2015 GENERAL APPROPRIATIONS BILL (GAB) | |
|---|---|
| Contingent Fund | P2B |
| National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund | P13B |
| QRF Breakdown: | |
| Department of Social Welfare and Development | P1.33B |
| Department of National Defense | P353M |
| Office of Civil Defense (DND) | PP530M |
| Department of Public Works and Highways | P800M |
| Department of Education | P1B |
| Department of Agriculture | P500M |
| Department of Health | P500M |
| Department of Transportation and Communications | P1B |
| National Irrigation Administration | P500M |
| TOTAL | P21.51B |
Abad said, “The Administration isn’t acting alone here. Aid organizations, citizen groups, and ordinary Filipinos are all pitching in so we can weather this latest calamity.” (dbm.gov.ph)
Source: news.pia.gov.ph
