DBM releases P662M for calamity victims

INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

The Department of Budget and Management has released P662.5 million to replenish the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) quick response fund (QRF) for victims of Typhoon “Rosita” and other calamities.

In a statement on Wednesday, the DBM said the funds would be for disaster relief in Northern Luzon following Rosita and other typhoons that might hit the country in the last two months of the year.

The QRF is a standby fund used to cover relief and rehabilitation in case of disasters and calamities.

“According to the DSWD request for fund release, the P662.5 million allotment will be used for the purchase of family food packs, the conduct of Disaster Risk Reduction Management (DRRM) programs, and as a standby fund,” the DBM said.

This is the third time the QRF is replenished this year. Prior to this replenishment, the QRF of the DSWD had a balance of P637 million, DBM noted.

According to the DBM, it is standard practice to replenish the fund in anticipation of forthcoming disasters or calamities. /cbb