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Manila Bulletin devider Business devider Banking & Finance devider Proposed 2026 calamity fund 50% higher at ₱31 billion despite congressional cuts in recent years

Proposed 2026 calamity fund 50% higher at ₱31 billion despite congressional cuts in recent years

Published Aug 14, 2025 02:31 pm

At A Glance

  • The government has proposed a ₱31-billion National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund (NDRRMF) or Calamity Fund for 2026, nearly 50 percent higher than this year's allocation.
The government has proposed a ₱31-billion National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund (NDRRMF) or calamity fund for 2026, nearly 50-percent higher than this year’s allocation.
According to the National Expenditure Program (NEP) for fiscal year (FY) 2026, the proposed calamity fund—equivalent to 0.5 percent of the proposed ₱6.79-trillion national budget—is 47.6-percent higher than this year’s ₱21 billion. It is also substantially above the ₱20.5 billion allocated in 2024.
Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Secretary Amenah F. Pangandaman told Manila Bulletin on Thursday, Aug. 14, that the annual NDRRMF budget proposals have consistently been set at the same level, but always reduced during congressional deliberations.
“Annually, the proposed NEP level for NDRRMF has always been ₱31 billion, which is based on historical utilization of the said fund,” Pangandaman said.
“However, Congress, in the exercise of its power of the purse, limits it to ₱21 billion in the 2025 GAA [General Appropriations Act],” she noted.
As per Pangandaman, she was not aware of Congress’ rationale for capping the 2025 calamity fund at ₱21 billion.
In essence, the proposal for 2026 remained unchanged from previous years’ proposals. The Budget chief has yet to explain why this level was still proposed despite cuts in the previous national budgets.
In July, the DBM released ₱1.6 billion to replenish the quick response funds (QRFs) of the departments of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and of Public Works and Highways (DPWH). The release responded to successive typhoons and other weather disturbances that battered the country.
The DSWD and the DPWH are among the agencies with built-in QRFs to ensure immediate disaster response.
As of June 30, ₱16.4 billion remained from the ₱20-billion NDRRMF, while the separate ₱1-billion People’s Survival Fund (PSF) was untouched, bringing the total available calamity response funds to ₱17.4 billion.
After factoring in the latest QRF releases, the remaining NDRRMF balance stood at around ₱15.8 billion, including the PSF.
The QRF serves as an emergency standby fund for agencies to support disaster preparedness, relief, and rehabilitation. Agencies may request additional funds from the DBM once at least 50 percent of their QRF allocation has been used.

Related Tags

Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Amenah F. Pangandaman calamity fund
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