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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Gatchalian: Government should tap P180-B under 2026 national budget for Mindanao quake response

Gatchalian: Government should tap P180-B under 2026 national budget for Mindanao quake response

Published Jun 11, 2026 10:53 am

At A Glance

  • The Senate President Pro Tempore also emphasized the immediate availability of the remaining P17.898-billion under the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund (NDRRMF), which serves as the government's primary funding source for disaster response, relief, rehabilitation, reconstruction, and recovery efforts.

Acting Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian on Thursday, June 11 urged the government to utilize the P180-billion worth of funds available under the 2026 national budget for emergency response and rehabilitation efforts in Mindanao.

Senator Sherwin “Win” Gatchalian is the new Senate President Pro Tempore during the plenary session at the Senate of the Philippines in Pasay City on June 3, 2026. (Mark Balmores)
Senator Sherwin “Win” Gatchalian is the new Senate President Pro Tempore during the plenary session at the Senate of the Philippines in Pasay City on June 3, 2026. (Mark Balmores)

The Senate President Pro Tempore also emphasized the immediate availability of the remaining P17.898-billion under the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund (NDRRMF), which serves as the government's primary funding source for disaster response, relief, rehabilitation, reconstruction, and recovery efforts.

Other available funds for disaster-related response include P32.307-billion under the Local Government Support Fund (LGSF)–Financial Assistance to local government units (LGUs), P15.897-billion under the Contingent Fund, and P8.163-billion under the Quick Response Fund (QRF) of various line agencies.

“Ang importante magamit natin agad ang mga pondo na ito dahil marami tayong kababayan na apektado at nangangailangan ng agarang tulong mula sa gobyerno (What is important is that we use these funds immediately because many of our countrymen are affected and need immediate assistance from the government),” Gatchalian said.

The senator also noted that the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has P46.778-billion available under its Protective Services for Individuals and Families in Difficult Circumstances program.

The Department of Education (DepEd) also has P4.08 billion available under its Disaster Preparedness and Response Program (DPRP). On top of this, the agency has a substantial P67-billion allocation this year for the construction of classrooms, which can help address the extensive damage to school facilities caused by the earthquake.

“Napakahirap ng sitwasyon ngayon ng ating mga eskwelahan dahil maraming school buildings ang naapektuhan ng lindol (The situation of our schools is very difficult right now because many school buildings were affected by the earthquake),” he noted.

“Inaasahan nating magamit agad ang pondong ito para sa kapakanan ng ating mga estudyante sa Mindanao (We expect this fund to be used immediately for the welfare of our students in Mindanao),” he said.

Also available under the 2026 national budget for the rehabilitation of quake-hit areas in Mindanao are P1.657-billion from DSWD-OSEC, P230.515-million from DA-OSEC, and P46.882-million from DSWD-OSEC, the lawmaker stressed.

Related Tags

Mindanao quake Senate Sherwin Gatchalian 2026 national budget
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