MANILA, Philippines - The disaster response fund of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) for this year is down to P583 million, an official said yesterday.
“This may be enough till yearend given the El Niño... we have fewer storms but they may be more severe,” said DSWD Assistant Secretary Javier Jimenez.
A total of P1.325 billion in Quick Response Fund (QRF) was allotted to the DSWD for this year.
Jimenez said the DSWD could ask for additional funds from the budget department. He said they could also use the balance from the 2013 QRF, which is around P300 million.
The DSWD released around P25 million from the QRF for relief operations for victims of Storm Mario and an initial P8.5 million for preemptive evacuation of families near Mayon Volcano last month.