House OKs resolution extending availability of 2013 calamity funds

MANILA, Philippines — The House of Representatives voted on Monday, to extend the validity of calamity and quick response funds for 2013 to the end of 2014, thereby allowing the government more time to use these amounts to rebuild calamity areas.

The plenary approved the resolution on second and third reading Monday night, after the President certified the measure as urgent last week.

A total of 196 lawmakers approved the resolution. Nobody voted against it, but one lawmaker abstained.

The joint resolution intends to address the issue of how to fund rehabilitation efforts after a string of disasters hit the country, the most lethal of which was supertyphoon “Yolanda” (Haiyan).  Local and national offices may not be able to obligate funds to fully implement programs before the end of the year, hence the need to allow them to use the funds for a longer period.

The resolution extends to December 31, 2014 the validity of the calamity fund, quick response fund including those sourced from savings realigned this year, and other unobligated allotments for 2013 covering appropriations for capital outlays and maintenance and other operating expenses.

The House was also set to approve on Monday night the P14.6 billion supplemental budget that would be used to augment the calamity fund.