Senator Grace Poe assured on Sunday, November 17 that next year’s budget has sufficient funds to ensure there is fast and timely relief to communities affected by calamities and disasters. 

Poe, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Finance and leading the deliberations on the proposed P6.352-trillion budget for 2025, said P21-billion has been allocated for the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund (NDRRMF) for this purpose. 

The amount is P500-million higher than this year's appropriation, the senator pointed out.

“The increase is for our people's urgent and essential needs during calamities,” Poe said.

“If communities have the resources, they can make timely responses that can save lives,” she added.

The senator further said the calamity fund should not only provide for immediate relief but address as well, repair and rehabilitation needs of affected areas.

“Itong budget na nilalaan natin ay hindi lang sana para maabutan ang mga biktima ng bagyo o iba pang kalamidad ng pagkain sa ilang araw (This budget that we are allocating is not just to reach the victims of the typhoon or other calamities with food in a few days),” Poe said.

“Pantulong din ito sa pagbangon at muling pagsisimula ng ating mga kababayang nasalanta (This will also help in the recovery and restart of our countrymen who were devastated),” she added.

Poe also said she supports proposals to increase the quick response fund (QRF) of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) which is always at the forefront of every disaster.

“Matindi itong hagupit sa ilan nating kababayan ng sunod sunod na bagyo. Inaayos nating mabuti ang budget para masiguro na sa panahon ng pangangailangan, mayroon tayong pinaghuhugutan  ng tulong (This is a severe blow to some of our compatriots who are reeling from one typhoon after another. We adjust the budget carefully to ensure that in times of need, we have someone to draw on for help),” the senator said.