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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Remaining calamity fund too small for big quakes--Recto

Remaining calamity fund too small for big quakes--Recto

Published Jul 27, 2022 02:21 pm

Batangas 6th district Rep. Ralph Recto is worried that the available National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund (NDRRMF), otherwise known as the calamity fund, may be "insufficient for rehabilitation work".

The damage caused by the July 27, 2022 earthquake in Abra



"We are just in the opening weeks of the calamity season. And instead of a typhoon, a powerful earthquake was the opening act," Recto said in a statement Wednesday afternoon, July 27.

The former senator was referring to the magnitude 7.3 earthquake that struck Abra Wednesday morning.

"Beginning-year available appropriations is P20.7 billion – P20 billion in 2022 appropriations and P700 million carried forward from 2021. As of June 30, releases have reached almost P6 billion, and if the P1.9 billion in earmarked allocations will be added, the disbursable amount left is P12.8 billion, the amount inherited by President Marcos," Recto explained.

"If the P12.8 billion will be used to fund the relief and repair work in earthquake-hit areas, it will leave the NDRRMF depleted, unable to respond to the typhoons that will surely hit us," he said.


"The President can augment this by tapping the P7-billion contingent fund for 2022. This is the national emergency fund under his disposal," noted the veteran lawmaker.

"And if this will not be enough, there is always the option of Congress passing an appropriations bill that will finance reconstruction," he added.

The House of Representatives is awaiting Malacañang's submission of the 2023 National Expenditure Program (NEP), which will then be used to craft the proposed General Appropriations Act (GAA) or national budget.

Related Tags

72722 Damage abra ralph recto Earthquake calamity fund
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