To ensure unhampered disaster response amid the consecutive storms that hit the country in the recent days, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has already requested the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) for the immediate replenishment of the agency’s Quick Response Funds (QRF).
Disaster Response Management Group (DRMG) Asst. Secretary Irene Dumlao, who is also the DSWD spokesperson, told reporters the agency expects the QRF replenishment next week.
“Yung status of stockpile, stand by funds natin nagkakahalaga pa ng Php107 million. Gayundin we have more than 1.3 million family food packs strategically prepositioned across the country, but we have also requested for augmentation support already from the DBM. And then currently, under review na po ito,” Asst. Secretary Dumlao told reporters during the Thursday Media Forum on November 7 held weekly at the New Press Center in the DSWD Central Office in Quezon City.
The DRMG official said the agency has requested for a total of Php875 million from the DBM, which will be directed to department-disbursed assistance to families affected by Kristine, Leon, and Marce, as well as to disasters and calamities that may follow.
This fund, according to Asst. Secretary Dumlao, will be crucial to sustain the continuous procurement of food items and the augmentation of relief aid, which is central to the agency’s mandate in times of disasters and crises.
“Dahil ongoing pa rin po yung procurement natin to produce family food packs, we hope we could have our replenishment already so we can sustain our production,” the DSWD spokesperson pointed out.
On the AKAP budget
In the same forum, Asst. Secretary Dumlao told reporters that the agency fully respects the
Senate Committee on Finance’s proposed amendments to the Department’s budget for Fiscal Year 2025.
“As an implementing agency, the DSWD will of course implement only the projects or programs that are indicated in our General Appropriations Act ,” Asst. Secretary Dumlao said when asked to comment on the Senate committee’s suggestion of removing AKAP in the line item of the DSWD’s proposed budget for 2025.
Asst. Secretary Dumlao stressed that the Department will welcome the Senate’s review on the proposed amendments, which will determine the final annual budget and expenditure program for the agency.
“Ang DSWD naman, of course, iginagalang natin ang atin legislative branch of the government which has the power of the purse. So, kung ano ang maging resulta ng kanilang deliberasyon at kung anong mag-reflect doon sa GAA, of course, yun ang i-implement ng DSWD,” Asst. Secretary Dumlao pointed out. (LSJ)
