THE government is now eyeing the P2 billion in unused fund from the implementation of the cash aid program of the Department of Social Welfare Development (DSWD) to help typhoon victims.
Social Welfare Undersecretary for Disaster Relief and Response Management Felicisimo Budiongan said this will be included in their Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) program.
“This is where the DSWD could help them,” Budiongan said during an online press briefing at the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) office in Camp Aguinaldo on Sunday.
Under the AICS, DSWD could provide qualified beneficiaries with financial assistance for transportation; medical needs; burial; education; and food.
Those who also applied for the program may get psychosocial intervention and referral for other services.
Exhausted funds
Budiongan admitted they currently have no funds specifically to provide livelihood aid for those affected by Super Typhoon Rolly (international name: Goni).
Aside from AICS, he said their interventions for those affected by the typhoon are limited to food packs, shelter assistance, and other non-food items.
Currently, DSWD has P884 million worth of food packs and standby funds, which it could deploy for typhoon victims.
As of 10 am on Sunday, NDRRMC reported typhoon Rolly has affected 96,543 families (345,993 individuals).
The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) had targeted minimal or zero casualty from typhoon Rolly since LGUs had started preparing for it since last week.
Some local government officials from typhoon-hit provinces like Quezon have sought additional budgets from the national government after having exhausted their calamity fund as they faced typhoon Quinta (international name: Molave) earlier this month.
NDRRMC said the LGUs may decided to realign some of their existing funds for their calamity response subject to the approval of their respective boards.
Presidential intervention
Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said the government is now looking for additional sources of funds for the said requests.
“Officials of the Office of the President are now having a meeting to see what other funds could be released,” Roque said.
Despite not being physically present in the NDRRMC meeting during the weekend, President Duterte is closely monitoring the response of the government to the effects of the typhoon from Davao, Roque said.
He issued the statement in response to criticism of Duterte’s public absence while typhoon Rolly made landfall during the weekend.
Roque said the President was unable to participate in the meeting since the typhoon disrupted flights. He had gone to Davao earlier
“We actually expect him to address the nation. I am just not sure what day it will be. But he was the one who ordered the meeting [of the NDRRMC] on Sunday to give assistance to our countrymen who need help during the typhoon,” Roque explained.
Image credits: Roy Domingo