Metro Manila, Philippines – President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. said he would ask Congress for more emergency appropriation to replenish the Quick Response Fund (QRF) in the wake of successive calamities, including the 6.9-magnitude earthquake in Cebu.
Speaking during a situation briefing in Bogo City, Cebu on Thursday, Oct. 2, Marcos said the QRFs need to be replenished after spending for assistance to areas hit by Super Typhoon Nando, Typhoon Opong, and the Sept. 30 tremor. He said he has instructed Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman to arrange the fund release.“’Yung mga QRF ng ibang mga agencies, paubos na. So, magre-release tayo ng QRF, para mayroon kayong magamit. We will have it released as quickly as possible,” Marcos told local officials.In light of the Cebu quake, Marcos ordered more than ₱600 million in assistance from the Office of the President and the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), broken down into ₱50 million for the provincial government; ₱20 million each to Bogo, Sogod, and San Remigio; and ₱10 million each to Bantayan, Daanbantayan, Madridejos, Medellin, Santa Fe, Tabogon, and Tabuelan.The president also directed the release of ₱20 million each to Department of Health (DOH) hospitals and ₱5 million each to provincial hospitals. In addition, the DBM will release ₱150 million in Local Government Support Fund to the province and ₱75 million each to San Remigio, Bogo City, and Medellin.“I assured all of our local executives that this is not minsanan lang. We will continue to monitor and coordinate with the local leadership to make sure that our rehabilitation efforts run smoothly,” Marcos said.The government is also distributing ₱10,000 in cash assistance to people with damaged homes, and possible additional aid depending on the recovery progress. The government is also preparing temporary shelters, including tent cities, for displaced families who fear returning to their homes.
