DBM releases ₱741 million to replenish disaster quick response funds
By Derco Rosal
To sustain the government’s ongoing relief and recovery efforts following recent disasters, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has released a total of ₱740.8 million to replenish the Quick Response Funds (QRF) of concerned agencies.
In a statement, Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman said the agency released ₱640.8 million to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and ₱100 million to the Department of National Defense–Office of Civil Defense (DND-OCD).
“Our support for agencies and local government units will continue to help our fellow citizens restore normalcy in their lives,” Pangandaman said.
In particular, the ₱640.83 million QRF replenishment will be used to purchase family food packs and non-food items for DSWD’s relief stockpile.
This, the DBM said, will also cover emergency cash assistance for over 73,300 families affected by earthquakes in Cebu City and Davao, as well as those hit by the southwest monsoon and tropical cyclones “Mirasol,” “Nando,” and “Opong” in the Bicol Region.
It added that the released amount “will also be used for the procurement of transport and delivery services and stand-by funds of DSWD Regional Offices, among others.”
Apart from the latest release, the DSWD earlier received a total of ₱1.3 billion, with ₱625 million released on Oct. 2 and ₱716.2 million on Oct. 8, to replenish its 2025 QRF.
Meanwhile, the ₱100 million replenishment for the OCD’s QRF will cover its maintenance and operating expenses (MOOE) to sustain disaster management operations until year-end.
The QRF is a standby emergency facility that finances urgent relief and recovery efforts, enabling communities to return to normal after disasters such as earthquakes and typhoons. Agencies can request additional funds from the DBM once their fund balance drops to 50 percent.