Malacañang said the government still has over P10 billion available funds from the pooled savings of government agencies to be used to help sectors, which are affected by the resumption of Middle East (ME) war.
Palace Press Officer Claire Castro issued the statement with the resumption of the conflict in the Middle East following the collapse of the peace talks of the United States (US) and Iran, which resulted in the escalation of attacks between the two factions in the region.
She said the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) was able to collect P22.79 billion of savings from the National Budget Circular (NBC) 602 and 603.
‘These savings will be used for UPLIFT interventions involving the DMW [Department of Migrant Workers,] DOTr [Department of Transportation], and DOE [Departer of Energy] programs. Most likely, these will be allocated to those affected by the crisis in the Middle East,’ Castro said.
DBM issued NBC 602 last April instructing government agencies for the reduction of Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses (MOOE) by 20 percent and the guidelines for deferring capital outlays.
NBC 603 was released last May, providing the guidelines for offering and declaration of savings from programs, activity, and projects from unobligated allotments from fiscal year 2025 General Appropriations Act and Continuing Appropriations.
Of the said savings, P12.37 billion were allocated for the expanded United Package for Livelihoods, Industry, Food, and Transport (UPLIFT), which was announced by President Ferdinand Marcos last week.
The expanded UPLIFT will provide cash aid to 37.5 million Filipinos.
With the remaining savings, Castro said the government currently has sufficient funds to assist those who may be affected by the Middle East conflict.
‘As of now, this represents the savings, and we haven’t yet received information indicating a budget shortfall. So, at this stage, we cannot say that the budget is insufficient,’ Castro said.