The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has requested the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) for an immediate replenishment of its quick response fund (QRF) to ensure uninterrupted disaster response amid the series of cyclones that have affected the country.
In a media forum on Thursday, Nov. 7, DSWD spokesperson and Disaster Response Management Group (DRMG) Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao said the agency expects the QRF replenishment to be processed by next week.
“Our current stockpile and standby funds are valued at approximately P107 million. We also have more than 1.3 million family food packs strategically prepositioned across the country. However, we have already requested further augmentation from the DBM, and the request is currently under review,” Dumlao said in Filipino.
She said the DSWD has asked for P875 million to support relief operations for families affected by the recent storms, including Kristine, Leon, and Marce, and for any future calamities that may occur.
According to Dumlao, the replenishment is critical to maintaining the ongoing procurement of food items and ensuring that relief assistance continues to meet the needs of disaster-affected communities.
“Because we are still in the process of procuring more family food packs, timely replenishment is essential to sustain our production efforts,” she said.