P15.5 billion calamity fund ready for El Niño

MANILA, Philippines — Government agencies can still tap over P15 billion in disaster funds to mitigate the impacts of El Niño, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) said yesterday.

As of April 24, the DBM said the national disaster risk reduction management fund, more commonly known as the calamity fund, stood at P15.507 billion. 

Since the start of the year, some P4.99 billion has already been released from the total P20.5 billion allocation under the 2024 national budget.

“We are prepared to support all operations that seek to cushion the negative impacts of the dry spell affecting various provinces in the country,” Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman said.

Calamity funds are being used for aid, relief and rehabilitation services to various areas, as well as for the repair and reconstruction works in connection with the occurrence of natural or human-induced calamities.

Currently, over 100 cities and towns have been placed under a state of calamity due to El Niño.

Some 2.1 million individuals have also been affected by the weather phenomenon.

A state of calamity declaration allows local governments to use the available calamity funds to mitigate the impact of the dry spell.

According to the DBM, the available calamity fund balance comes from the 2024 budget and the remaining continuing appropriations from last year. 

It is also inclusive of P1 billion allocated for the parametric insurance coverage of government facilities against natural calamities.

Further, select agencies may also tap their built-in quick response fund (QRF). 

These include first response agencies such as the Departments of Agriculture, Education, Health, Interior and Local Government, Public Works and Highways, Social Welfare and Development and Transportation. 

Under the law, once the QRF of any agency reaches 50 percent or lower, it can request replenishment from the DBM.

Apart from the calamity fund, the government also allocated P4.5 billion for the crop insurance program of the Philippine Crop Insurance Corp.

The funding will finance crop insurance premiums of around 2.3 million subsistence farmers and fisherfolk nationwide.