A TOTAL of P8.008 billion in calamity funds may be accessed by government agencies to provide relief and rehabilitation in light of the 6.9-magnitude earthquake that hit Cebu on Tuesday night, according to the Department of Budget and Management.
In a statement on Wednesday, Budget Secretary Amenah F. Pangandaman urged government agencies to activate their Quick Response Funds (QRF).
This comes after the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to ensure immediate relief and rehabilitation for communities affected by the earthquake, which claimed at least 20 lives, injured dozens, damaged heritage churches and other structures and disrupted power in several parts of the Visayas. Related stories on the Cebu earthquake in Nation and Economy pages.
The QRF is an emergency standby fund lodged under the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund (NDRRMF), also known as the calamity fund.
It enables frontline agencies to immediately provide assistance to areas stricken by disasters and emergencies.
Government agencies with built-in QRFs include the Departments of Health (DOH), Interior and Local Government (DILG), Public Works and Highways (DPWH), National Defense-Office of Civil Defense (DND-OCD), Education (DepEd), Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Transportation-Philippine Coast Guard (DOTr-PCG), Agriculture (DA) and National Irrigation Administration (NIA).
Agencies may request for replenishment from the DBM once their QRF balance has reached at least 50 percent.
‘Our prayers go to the families who lost their loved ones and to all who are enduring this tragedy. In moments like this, government aid must never be delayed,’ Pangandaman said.
The budget secretary has also ordered the DBM and PS regional office in Cebu and nearby areas to immediately check on the safety of their personnel, submit situation reports and conduct structural inspections of DBM and PS buildings.
DBM’s regional offices in Central and Eastern Visayas were also instructed to coordinate with their regional counterparts from the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) to identify requirements where DBM assistance may be extended.
P100 M for Masbate
Meanwhile, the DBM also released P100 million in assistance for those affected by three consecutive typhoons that battered Masbate.
The P100-million fund will cover food, shelter, medicines and supplies for families who lost their homes and livelihoods.
The province was declared under a state of calamity, after more than 400,000 families or almost 1.6 million individuals from 2,615 barangays have been affected.
Citing authorities’ reports, the DBM said damage to agriculture and infrastructure in the province is estimated at over P63 million, while more than 1,000 classrooms were damaged and are no longer usable by students.
‘Following President Marcos’ instructions, we acted immediately to release the necessary funds. It is our duty to ensure that aid reaches families in need without delay,’ Pangandaman said.
Under the Local Government Support Fund (LGSF), the national government may extend support to local government units during calamities.
Local governments may access the LGSF once their own disaster risk reduction and management funds are depleted, and if those remain inadequate, they may request additional funds from the NDRRM Fund.