Release of P1.57-B IRA funds for typhoon-hit Region 8 OK’d

MANILA, Philippines - The government has approved the release of P1.57 billion in Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) funds to local government units in Region 8 (Eastern Visayas) by the end of the month to speed up relief and rehabilitation efforts in storm-battered areas.

Eastern Visayas was the hardest hit by Super Typhoon Yolanda. It is the country’s third poorest region with 37 percent of its population living below the poverty line.

This would bring total IRA releases to Region 8, which includes Samar, Leyte, and Tacloban City, to P3.14 billion this month.

“The extraordinary tragedy that Yolanda left in her wake has put many of our affected LGUs in a very difficult position, especially with respect to res-toring the delivery of key goods and services to their constituents,” Budget Secretary Butch Abad said.

“We are therefore facilitating the early release of funds representing the December IRA shares of Region 8, which took the brunt of Yolanda’s force. At the same time, the DBM continues to work with other agencies on ensuring the continuous provision of quick assistance and relief operations to LGUs affected by the typhoon,” Abad added.

For November, the government has released a total of P3.84 billion to Region 6 (P1.79) and Region 7 (P2.05 billion).

Abad said the funds would be used to deliver basic social services, which include support for relief, rehabilitation, and reconstruction efforts in the regions’ 16 provinces, 39 cities, 369 towns, and 11,441 barangays.

Abad said the Budget department’s regional offices “are working round the clock to facilitate the swift release of IRA shares to other regions affected by Yolanda, despite present difficulties in communications and operations in the area. However, we can guarantee that enough funds will be made available to our local governments so they can strengthen their respective post-calamity activities and ensure that basic services and goods are still being provided to their constituents.”

The recent IRA releases to Yolanda-affected regions are on top of the P25.3 billion in government savings (P12.58 billion), the President’s Social Fund (P6.4 billion), quick relief funds (P4.19 billion), calamity funds (P1.28 billion), and contingency funds (P824 million) that are still available for mobilizing disaster relief efforts in typhoon-stricken regions.