National government ready to provide financial aid to Vicky-hit areas — DBM

MANILA, Philippines — After Tropical Depression Vicky brought floods and landslides in the Visayas and Mindanao, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) on Wednesday said the national government may extend financial assistance to calamity-hit local government unit (LGUs).

According to Budget Secretary Wendel Avisado, local calamity funds may be tapped by LGUs for their respective rescue, relief, and rehabilitation efforts—which are derived from the Quick Response Funds.

The local calamity fund is chargeable against the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Fund (NDRRMF).

Additional financial assistance, meanwhile, will be released to the LGUs as soon as their localities are declared under a state of calamity, Avisado said.

He added that applications for financial aid will go through a “swift and due process” as the DBM will work closely with agencies such as the Office of the Civil Defense and the Social Welfare Department to facilitate the processing of the said requests.

LGUs with complete documents are assured of the release of funds within 24 hours, the budget chief noted.

Tropical Depression Vicky made landfall in Davao Oriental on Friday, bringing floods and landslides in parts of the Visayas and Mindanao which left nine people dead.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said Vicky affected some 5,200 families in Central Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao, Davao Region, and Caraga.

Floods caused by Vicky’s heavy rain displaced 1,328 families or some 5,400 people in Caraga and the Davao region.

EDV