MANILA – The government will not release the over P25 billion unused calamity funds as an additional pandemic response aid without justification, the Malacañang said on Monday.
“Sang-ayon kay [Department of Budget and Management] secretary [Wendell] Avisado, ang calamity funds nire-release ‘yan as the need arises, we can’t release without any reason or justification,” according to Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque.
Based on DBM’s Status of Allotment Releases report, the full P20-billion National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund (NDRRMF) has yet to be released as of March 31. This includes the P13 billion for the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Program (NDRRMP); P5 billion for Marawi recovery; and P2 billion for insurance premiums.
A total of P5.135 billion calamity funds for2020 remain unreleased as of end-March. This includes the P4.688 billion for the Comprehensive Aid to Repaid Earthquake Damage for Regions XI and XII; P439.198 million for the NDRRMP; and P8.187 million for the Marawi recovery.
The unutilized funds last year can still be used this year since President Rodrigo Duterte signed laws that extended the Bayanihan to Recover As One Act and the 2020 national budget in January, given the health pandemic.
“Hindi naman nangyayari all at once ang natural calamities, kailangan i-release po ‘yan ‘pag hiningi in response to a particular disaster,” Roque added./PN
