Cagayan de Oro 2nd District Rep. Rufus Rodriguez has called on the national government to immediately disburse more funds to help the victims of Typhoon Odette.
Rodriguez particularly asked the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to release the 2022 national budget "as early as this coming Monday", which was already signed by President Duterte, because "our people in Mindanao, the Visayas and in Southern Luzon suffering in the aftermath of the recent strong typhoon are still waiting for government assistance."
The lawmaker made the call as only part of the P10-billion assistance, which was promised by the President, has so far been released.
"We should help them rebuild their homes, livelihood, their communities, and their lives," added Rodriguez, whose home province was also hardest-hit by "Odette".
According to Rodriguez, at least P27 billion in disaster response-related funds are available in the 2022 national budget to help those affected by "Odette".
He said there is a P7-billion contingency fund in the said budget, which the government can use.
Another source, he added, is the P20-billion national disaster risk reduction and management fund.