DBM chief says unprogrammed funds may be utilized for relief ops

Unprogrammed funds may be accessed if the allocated disaster funds for relief efforts following Severe Tropical Storm Kristine (international name Trami) prove inadequate, according to Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Secretary Amenah Pangandaman on Friday.

During a situation briefing with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. at Malacañang Palace in Manila, Pangandaman stated, “If additional funding is necessary, we can utilize unprogrammed appropriations.”

She reassured the President and Cabinet members of the DBM’s steadfast commitment to providing necessary funding to agencies focused on immediate disaster response and rehabilitation.

As of October 2024, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund (NDRRMF) holds a total available balance of P1,983,059,181, as reported by the DBM.

Pangandaman mentioned that a request is pending for the release of a Special Allotment Release Order (SARO) to allocate the available NDRRMF funds for replenishing the Quick Response Fund (QRF).

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is seeking P1 billion, while the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Office of Civil Defense have requested P25 million and P37.5 million, respectively.

After the SARO is issued for these QRF augmentation requests, the remaining balance of the NDRRMF will be P921.4 million, she indicated.

Regarding the status of the QRF, Pangandaman reported that the PNP is the only agency to have fully obligated its QRF allocation of P58 million. In contrast, the Department of Education (DepEd), which received the largest QRF allocation of P3.5 billion, has utilized only 7.3 percent of its funds, leaving over P3 billion available for repairing school buildings damaged by Kristine.

Additionally, the Department of Agriculture has over P1.5 billion in available funds for disaster response efforts related to Kristine.

Pangandaman noted that the Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund (LDRRMF) could also support disaster risk management initiatives, including pre-disaster preparedness and post-disaster activities. This fund may be used for calamity insurance premiums as well.

All government departments and agencies are authorized to use a portion of their appropriations to implement projects aimed at addressing disaster risk activities, following guidelines set by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.

Another potential funding source is the Contingent Fund, which currently has a balance of P10.33 billion. This fund can be used to support urgent activities or projects from national government agencies, government-owned and controlled corporations (GOCCs), and local government units.

In a statement released on Friday, President Marcos instructed Pangandaman to expedite the disbursement of necessary funds to facilitate immediate resource procurement in areas affected by Kristine.

During the briefing, Marcos emphasized the need for government agencies to be “more creative and maximize resources,” urging them to resolve issues promptly and keep him informed.

He underscored the urgency of the situation, saying, “There are people still in water right now. They are still flooded. They have no water supply, no food, and no place to stay. If you feel tired, think about their condition. Let us always keep that in mind.”