The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has sub-allotted anew a total of P615,376,370 to DSWD-Field Office XII for its continuing support for El Nino affected areas in the region and in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

This amount is sourced from the additional fund released to the DSWD by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) specifically P662,500,000 additional QRF in addition to the P1.32 billion QRF for 2016 and  Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation (CCAM) Fund.

It can be recalled that the DBM has authorized the DSWD to use  its QRF amounting to P1.32 billion and regular funds to respond to El Niño requirements.

Earlier,  the DSWD has released P739,492,203.33, as of April 19, out of the 2016 P1.32 billion QRF fund covering the  assistance for  El Nino affected families nationwide. The amount includes the cost of food assistance and the implementation of Cash-for-Work (CFW).

DSWD Secretary Corazon Juliano-Soliman said that it may be significant to mention that ARMM has its own fund source and yet the DSWD still provided augmentation assistance to the region.

“Even with the separate funding, the DSWD provided to the DSWD-ARMM, as of April 19, a total of  P389,811,605.00 since  2015  to augment their resources for El Niño. The amount was utilized for the implementation of CFW in El Niño-affected areas in the region,” Sec. Soliman said.

“Along with the rest of the government, DSWD recognizes the urgency of responding to the situation of hunger affecting the poor in many parts of the country,” Sec. Soliman emphasized. ###