DBM assures readiness to assist calamity-stricken LGUs

By Prince Golez

The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) expressed the country’s readiness to extend help to communities stricken by disasters and calamities.

In a press release Wednesday, Secretary Wendel Avisado said the local calamity fund can be tapped by local government units (LGUs) for their respective rescue, relief, and rehabilitation efforts—which are derived from the Quick Response Funds—but will still be subject to request from the DBM.

The local calamity fund, he added, is chargeable against the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Fund.

Avisado’s statement came after typhoon “Vicky” made landfall in Davao Oriental, which triggered flooding and landslides in several areas of Visayas and Mindanao.

According to him, financial assistance will be released to the LGUs as soon as their localities are declared under a state of calamity by the President.

This will go through a swift and due process as the DBM will work closely with agencies such as the Office of Civil Defense and the Department of Social Welfare and Development to facilitate the processing of the said requests, said Avisado.

He noted that local governments with complete documents can receive the funds within 24 hours.

“Finally dito sa level naman ng Pangulo ay aaprubahan nya tulad nung nangyari sa ‘Quinta’, ‘Rolly’, ‘Ulysses’, at bibigyan ng additional funding support ang ating mga lokal na pamahalaan,” the secretary concluded.

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