On September 5, 2018, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) released P662.5 million to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to cover the augmentation of the Quick Response Fund (QRF) under the agency’s Disaster and Response Management Program.

The QRF is a stand-by fund used to cover relief and rehabilitation in case of disasters and calamities.

According to the DSWD request for fund release,  the P662.5 million allotment will be used for the purchase of family food packs, for the conduct of Disaster Risk Reduction Management (DRRM) programs (i.e. purchase of relief supplies, cash or food-for work programs, shelter assistance), for administrative and operational expense, and for a standby fund for disaster augmentation.

Prior to the augmentation, the QRF of the DSWD had a balance of around P103.6 million, warranting the replenishment from the DBM.

According to the DBM, it is standard practice to replenish the fund in anticipation of forthcoming disasters or calamities.

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