President Rodrigo Duterte has approved on Monday night the release of ₱1.5 billion as calamity fund augmentation to local governments of areas affected by Typhoon Ulysses.
Following the authorization sought by Budget Secretary Wendel Avisado, President Duterte issued the go signal “if the papers have been prepared already pending [his] signature.”
“Ito po ‘yung distribution ng mga augmentation fund na ibibigay po ninyo sa mga local government units. Hinihintay po nila ‘yan dahil po alam nila na tutugunan natin ‘yung pangangailangan nila (This is the distribution of the augmentation funds to be handed to local government units. They are waiting for it because they know that we will respond to their needs),” Avisado stated.
“‘Pag naaprubahan po ninyo, bukas din mare-release po natin sa Bureau of Treasury iyong pera para magamit po nila kaagad (Once approved by you, it will be immediately released to the Bureau of Treasury for urgent use),” Avisado added.
Avisado reported that the government is prepared for upcoming typhoons for the remaining part of the year, citing the ₱10.274 billion balance to the regular National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (NDRRM) fund.
Another ₱1.5 billion have been previously released to aid areas affected by typhoons before Ulysses, including LGUs in the entire Calabarzon, Mimaropa, and Bicol regions.
“Mayroon pa pong nadagdag diyan. Base po ito sa result ng imbestigasyon ng OCD at ng DSWD… May buffer pa po tayo na ₱500 million. May nadagdag na sampung LGUs pa na bibigyan din natin. (We had an addition to that. Based on the investigation of the OCD and DSWD… We still have a buffer of ₱500 million and 10 more LGUs will be given aid),” he disclosed.
Based on the data presented by Malacañang on Tuesday noon, the damage of Typhoon Ulysses to infrastructure and agriculture reached ₱12,904,933,650.28 as of November 21. As for Typhoons Rolly and Quinta, damage in the said sectors ballooned to ₱22,097,811,179.50. – PTV News Online
