DILG Secretary Benhur Abalos (Ellson Quismorio/ MANILA BULLETIN)

Former Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) secretary Benhur Abalos highlighted on Thursday, Nov. 7 the need to immediately release funds for the government’s response measures amid the threat of typhoon "Marce".

Abalos, who is eyeing a Senate seat in the 2025 mid-term polls, called on the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to identify additional fund sources that can be tapped for relief operations. 

‘’Hindi dapat hayaang walang pondo para sa mga relief operations para sa panibagong bagyo na ito. Hindi nauubos ang pangangailangan ng ating mga mamamayan. Tiwala naman tayo sa DBM na pabibilisin nito ang paglalabas ng pondo para sa ating mga response and relief operations,’’ Abalos said in a statement.

(We shouldn't allow the relief operations for this new storm to be unfunded. Our countrymen constantly have needs. We're confident that the DBM will expedite the release of funds for our response and relief operations.)

‘’I continue to call government agencies to prioritize the safety and welfare of our kababayans. Patuloy natin silang alalayan sa panahong ito dahil marami sa kanila ay hindi pa rin naman nakakabangon mula sa mga naunang bagyo,’’ he added, referring to successive destructive storms "Kristine" and "Leon".

(Let's continue to support them at this time since many of them have yet to recover from the earlier typhoons.)

President Marcos recenty disclosed that the Quick Response Fund (QRF) has been depleted due to the tropical cyclones that hit the country in the previous weeks and months. 

Aside from the QRF, the government has funds available under the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund (NDRRMF) to provide various disaster relief operations.

Weather bureau Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) says Marce is expected to exit the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) on Friday evening.