Amenah F. Pangandaman
Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Secretary Amenah F. Pangandaman has assured the public that the Marcos administration has sufficient funds to address the needs of areas affected by recent flooding and the expected typhoons that may hit the country.
Pangandaman said in a July 24 statement that the president has instructed the agency to ensure that “immediate and necessary assistance reaches our fellow Filipinos in typhoon-hit areas.”
From the 2025 national budget, the DBM allocated the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund (NDRRMF), which serves as the government’s standby fund for calamity response and recovery efforts.
As of June 30, ₱16.4 billion remains from the ₱20-billion NDRRMF, while the separate ₱1-billion People Survival Fund (PSF) remains untouched, bringing the total available funds to ₱17.4 billion.
Broken down, ₱1.9 billion was used by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), ₱1.34 billion by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), ₱303 million by the Department of National Defense (DND), and ₱50 million by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).
“Each frontline agency also has a standby fund that can be used for relief and recovery efforts. So, we appeal to them to closely coordinate with us so we can provide what they need, including replenishment of their Quick Response Funds (QRF),” Pangandaman said.
Pangandaman said that the Filipinos should not worry, “because the government has sufficient funds.”
“As long as the requirements are complete and valid, the DBM will immediately process the release of funds,” the Budget Chief said.
“That’s why the DBM is calling on all government agencies to ensure that every peso we release reaches the rightful beneficiaries as quickly as possible,” Pangandaman stressed.
The QRF serves as an emergency standby fund for agencies to support disaster preparedness, relief, and rehabilitation. Agencies can request additional funds from the DBM after using at least 50 percent of their QRF allocation.