Abad: Gov’t has ‘ample emergency funds’

Budget Secretary Florencio Abad.  INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

Budget Secretary Florencio Abad. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines – Budget Secretary Florencio Abad assured on Monday that the government has “ample emergency funds on the ready” for 2014 and 2015 to respond to   disasters like Tropical Storm Ruby that is now battering the country.

“Preparation is critical in ensuring the safety of Filipinos in the face of natural disasters. The current year’s budget can fully support emergency operations as they’re needed, especially in the wake of Ruby,” Abad said in a statement.

“To date, the national and local governments have been working together to ensure that pre- and post-disaster activities are executed well,” he said.

Abad said a total of P5.34 billion Quick Response Funds (QRFs) from various government agencies is ready to use while additional funds amounting to a total of P21.51 billion would also be made available for relief and rehabilitation under the proposed 2015 national budget.

Below is the breakdown of the QRFs per department:

DEPARTMENT AVAILABLE QRFs
Department of Agriculture P406M
Department of Education P564M
Department of Health P500M
Department of National Defense P448M
Office of Civil Defense (DND) P765M
Department of Social Welfare and Development P1.01B
Department of Transportation and Communications P1B
Department of Public Works and Highway P650M¹
TOTAL P5.34B

Abad explained that the QRFs are released at the start of the year as part of the General Appropriations Act (GAA)-as-release document regime, allowing government agencies to make immediate use of funds for emergency response functions.

“In view of Tropical Storm Ruby, the DPWH (Department of Public Works and Highways) received replenishment of funds worth P650 million for its QRF last Friday,” he said.

Additional funds, he said, would also be made available for relief and rehabilitation efforts once the 2015 national budget is approved by Congress and signed by the President.

Below is the breakdown of the fund sources under the proposed 2015 national budget:

FUND SOURCES IN THE 2015 GENERAL APPROPRIATIONS BILL (GAB)
Contingent Fund P2B
National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund P13B
QRF Breakdown:
Department of Social Welfare and Development P1.33B
Department of National Defense P353M
Office of Civil Defense (DND) P530M
Department of Public Works and Highways P800M
Department of Education P1B
Department of Agriculture P500M
Department of Health P500M
Department of Transportation and Communications P1B
National Irrigation Administration P500M
TOTAL P21.51B

“The administration isn’t acting alone here. Aid organizations, citizen groups, and ordinary Filipinos are all pitching in so we can weather this latest calamity,” the Budget chief added.

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