The government has ample funds for emergency relief aid and rehabilitation services to communities affected by the southwest monsoon and typhoon “Carina,” according to 4Ps party-list Rep. Marcelino Libanan.
“In the 2024 General Appropriations Law, Congress earmarked the sum of P20.5 billion for the calamity fund to provide relief augmentation, such as cash aid and shelter assistance,” he said.
“The calamity fund also covers the repair and restoration of damaged vital public structures such as school buildings, hospitals, roads, bridges and seaports, among others,” he added.
Various government departments have quick response fund allocations lodged in their budgets for disaster recovery.
“In fact, we expect rebuilding activities to help create construction-related jobs that will benefit low-income households,” Libanan said.
The calamity fund “will replenish the QRF allocations of the various departments as needed,” he cited.
The last two typhoons to hit the Philippines – “Carina” and “Butchoy” – adversely affected more than 3.3 million people countrywide.