President Marcos has assured that the government has enough calamity funds and pre-positioned goods for typhoons until the end of this year, Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Secretary Cesar Chavez said on Monday, Nov. 11.
(MB file photo)
While calamity funds historically dry up by September to October because of the typhoon season, the official cited the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) in an ambush interview as having confirmed that the government now has sources from which they can draw funds.
“Sa budget ina-aasure tayo ng DBM may pondo tayo, kung noong una nababawasan yan (In terms of budget, the DBM assured as that we have funds, although it got reduced at first). Historically as early as October sometimes September, ‘yung calamity fund ng national at ng mga local nauubos na sya, pero laging may pagkukunan ng pondo ang gobyerno (the national’s and local’s calamity funds get depleted, but the government always has something to draw these funds from),” he explained.
Chavez added that the Chief Executive “assured us that we have enough funds for the next calamities until the end of December.”
On Sunday, Nov. 10, the President personally delivered about P80 million worth in financial assistance to eight areas in Buguey, Cagayan, which was badly hit by Typhoon Marce (international name: Yinxing).
Marcos also led the distribution of Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) 1,500 food packs and P866.3 million worth of agricultural aid from the Department of Agriculture (DA).
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) reported that “Marce” killed one person and affected 261,787 individuals or 76,622 families.
Meanwhile, Chavez also disclosed Marcos’ instructions for government agencies to ensure the pre-positioning of goods for immediate distribution to typhoon-affected communities.
The President’s directive will cover government agencies—the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and DPWH—and private contractors, including their logistical assets like trucks and machineries.
“May instruction sya sa DOTr, may instruction sya sa DPWH and attached agencies of DOTr and DPWH, ‘yung mga trucks ng mga contractors na may kontrata sa national government dapat katulong na sa pre-positioning (He has instructions to the DOTr, to the DPWH, and attached agencies of DOTr and DPWH, that the trucks of their contractors who have contracts with the national government should help in the pre-positioning),” the PCO secretary said.
The impact of Marce on the country came just after Typhoon Kristine and Leon battered the Bicol region and many parts of Luzon and the National Capital Region (NCR).
The two typhoons damaged P5.75 billion in the agriculture sector and killed 160 people, affecting P9.6 million.