The government disbursed P13 billion in calamity funds in the first seven months, primarily for the restoration of infrastructure damaged by typhoons, data from the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) showed.
Based on the data, the DBM released some P2.33 billion in July from the national disaster risk reduction management fund, also known as the calamity fund, bringing the January to July calamity releases to P13.54 billion.
The bulk of the fund went to the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) which received P7.67 billion, followed by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) with P4.64 billion.
The Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development also received P374.97 million, the Department of National Defense P100 million, and the Department of Finance P255.50 million.
Government-owned and controlled corporations such as the National Irrigation Administration and National Housing Authority also received P450 million and P49.34 million, respectively.
For July alone, a total of P1.15 billion was released to the DPWH, wherein the P1 billion went to fund the replenishment of 2024 Quick Response Fund (QRF) and P150.47 million to the implementation of calamity-related projects in Pangasinan and in Surigao del Norte.
A total of P875 million was also released to the DSWD during the month to fund the QRF, while around P255.5 million was released to the DOF to fund several projects such as rehabilitations in the municipality of Sabangan, Mountain Province damaged by the magnitude 7.0 Northwestern Luzon earthquake in 2022.
The QRF is a stand-by fund used to cover relief and rehabilitation in case of disasters and calamities.
Meanwhile, the National Housing Authority was allocated P49.94 million to cover the subsidies for implementing the Villaviciosa Resettlement Project.
Other agencies have yet to receive calamity funds as of end-July.
The remaining fund stands at P9.20 billion, including the P1.56 billion carry over from last year’s budget.