Source of funds
Coverage by Xave Gregorio and Bella Perez Rubio, Philippine Star
The government has "immensely" run out of disaster response funds—or at least that was President Duterte's version of the story. Officials dismissed the claim, pointing to several sources of financing to aid typhoon-battered regions.
A P2-billion calamity fund with NDRRMC. “We still have P1 billion, and then another billion given or allocated to local government units," an Office of the Civil Defense official said.
Duterte's contingent fund of P2 billion, according to the acting budget chief.
Rep. Carlos Zarate (Bayan Muna party-list)'s own estimate, on the other hand, suggests there is still more than P4 billion to tap for both the president's contingent and the NDRRMC's funds.
P1.44 trillion in unused funds from stalled and idle infrastructure projects, which the Commission on Audit flagged. Sen. Franklin Drilon suggests government can dip into this massive pool through realignment.
"Our social and health services took a backseat precisely to fund these infrastructure projects that the COA found delayed and idle... [T]he government must examine its prioritization, once and for all," Drilon said.
