Malacañang disclosed that the P22.7-billion savings of the government will be used to fund programs for vulnerable sectors affected by the Middle East conflict.

According to the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), the government has P22.79 billion in savings, Palace Press Officer and Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said on Thursday, July 23.

The Palace official said this when asked about the government savings following the DBM’s issuance of National Budget Circulars 602 and 603,  or the pooling of surplus to finance assistance programs.

Castro said the circulars were issued to call on agencies to identify and declare where these resources can be utilized.

Using the savings, the government will prioritize extending support through the Unified Package for Livelihoods, Industry, Food, and Transport (UPLIFT), aiding farmers, Filipino families, workers, commuters, and overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) affected by the Middle East crisis, Castro further said.

She added that the expanded UPLIFT, recently announced by President Marcos, will also be funded by the P22.7 billion in savings.

The P12.57-billion released by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) also came from the P22.79 billion savings.

“At muli, ang mga savings na ito ay gagamitin sa UPLIFT interventions para sa DMW, DOTr, mga DOE programs. Ito ay most probably mas maibibigay doon sa mga apektado dahil sa krisis sa Middle East (And again, these savings will be used for UPLIFT interventions for the Department of Migrant Workers, Department of Transportation, and programs of the Department of Energy. Most probably, this will be given to those affected by the Middle East crisis)," Castro said.

The DBM issued National Budget Circular (NBC) Nos. 602 and 603 in April and May, respectively, to direct national agencies to pool surplus and unused money to fund economic and energy-crisis relief programs, specifically the expanded UPLIFT.