Budget Secretary Florencio B. Abad said on Tuesday the government’s disaster-risk management program will receive a total of P129.3-billion budget allocation for 2016 to prepare the country in the event of natural calamities.
The amount, which increased by 4.3 percent from the current year, includes measures on climate-change adaptation and disaster-risk mitigation.
Of these funds, a total of P38.896 million will be allocated for the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund (NDRRMF).
The funds include the P18.896-million allocation for the Yolanda rehabilitation and recovery program for 2016; the remaining P19 million for NDRRMF; and P1 million for the People’s Survival Fund.
The budget chief presented to Congress on Monday the proposed P3.002- trillion national budget for 2016, with the bulk of the funds intended for economic and social services.
Abad earlier said the government has released a total of P88.96 billion for the Yolanda relief and rehabilitation operations.
“For the second half of 2015, the DBM [Department of Budget and Management] plans to release P14.05 billion more for post-Yolanda rehabilitation work. The release will be tapped from available 2015 fund sources, such as the Rehabilitation and Recovery Program, the Unprogrammed Fund, and savings from various agencies,” Abad said.
Meanwhile, various agencies and departments will receive P6.665 million specific allocation as Quick Response Fund to allow them to respond during natural calamities.
Under the QRF, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) will receive P1.3 million and P1.325 million respectively. Other agencies will receive P1 million and P500,000 each.