DBM allots P1.625B in quick response funds for DSWD, DPWH

As weather disturbances and storms continuously impact the country, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has released a total of 1.625 billion pesos to replenish the Fiscal Year 2025 Quick Response Funds (QRFs) of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

The DSWD will receive Php 625 million of the Php 1.625 billion; meanwhile, the remaining Php 1 billion will be given to the DPWH for their operations in assisting Filipinos affected by calamities as per President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr’s directive.

“Sinusunod po natin ‘yung utos ng Pangulo na gawing prayoridad ang kaligtasan at kapakanan ng mga kababayan nating nasalanta ng sunud-sunod na bagyo at mga pagbaha,” the DBM Secretary Mina Pangandaman said in a statement on July 25. 

The DSWD said the replenished funds will be used to procure Family Food Packs (FFPs) and non-food items (NFIs) for relief stockpiling.

According to the agency, around 510,745 disaster-affected families will benefit from this allocation.

For the DPWH, the Php 1 billion fund will cover the second replenishment of its built-in QRF.

Pangandaman noted that both agencies requested the replenishment of their QRFs in the FY 2025. 

“Ang DSWD at DPWH po, kasama po ‘yan sa mga ahensya ng gobyerno na may built-in QRFs para masiguro na agad silang makatutugon sa oras ng kalamidad. Now, they’ve requested to have their QRFs replenished, so we released a total of Php 1.625 billion to both agencies,” the Budget secretary said.

To prioritize the safety and welfare of Filipinos, the DBM assured that it supports agencies seeking replenishment, provided all required documents are complete.

“Naiintindihan po namin kung gaano kahalaga na may sapat na pondo ang mga ahensyang ito para rumesponde at bigyang tulong ‘yung mga nangangailangan. Kami naman po sa DBM, basta’t kumpleto ang mga dokumentong isina-submit, agad po nating inaaksyunan ‘yan,” Pangandaman added.

The funds released to the DSWD and DPWH will support reconstruction and rehabilitation programs, as well as the stockpiling of goods and equipment in communities hit by disasters from the last quarter of the previous year and the current year.

The QRFs are standby funds used for rescue, relief, and rehabilitation during emergencies, which are also replenishable without waiting for a lengthy budget approval.

If the time comes that certain agencies have reached 50 percent of their QRF balance, they may request replenishment, the DBM said.