DBM releases 8B more to Yolanda-affected areas

The national government has released another 8 billion for the rehabilitation and recovery of areas affected by super -typhoon “Yolanda” in 2013, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) said.

In a statement, Budget Secretary Florencio B. Abad said yesterday that the government has disbursed the funds to the National Housing Authority (NHA) for Yolanda-affected areas in central Philippines.

Abad said the funds were of the 19.0 billion approved by the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (NDRRMC) as funding requirement for resettlement projects in Yolanda-affected areas.

The 8-billion fund will be charged against the 2014 Supplemental Appropriations for the construction of permanent housing for victims of typhoon Yolanda.

“The 2014 supplemental budget fortunately enabled us to fast-track the implementation of the Yolanda rehabilitation plan instead of having to wait for the next fiscal year,” Abad said.

“What’s more, with the help of Congress, we had the budgetary space to address high-priority needs that couldn’t wait for the turnover to the next national budget,” he added.

The NHA’s Yolanda permanent housing program was created to address the housing needs of 205,128 families in Regions 4-B, 5,6, 7, 8, and CARAGA as approved by the Office of the Presidential Assistant for Rehabilitation and Recovery (OPARR).

Prior to this release, the DBM had released 11 billion in October last year charged against the NDRRM fund under the FY 2014 General Appropriations Act (GAA).

“Creating the budgetary support for the NHA’s permanent housing program for typhoon Yolanda victims is just part of the National Government’s thrust to 'Build Back Better,” Abad said.