- DBM provides fact-check for “false” claims made by Vice President Jejomar Binay
- The DBM says agencies have access to the Quick Respond Funds and NDRRM Fund for El Niño
- More than half of the P60 billion needed to complete Yolanda housing has also been released
The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has hit back on “false” claims made by United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) standard bearer Vice President Jejomar Binay.
Binay had earlier claimed that the DBM failed to release P900 million in funds supposedly for farmers hit by El Niño.
In a statement, the budget department belied Binay’s claims; noting that the Department of Agriculture (DA) had already submitted a request for P2.11 billion in additional funding for El Niño interventions:
“DA submitted a request for additional funds for El Niño interventions in the amount of P2.11 billion. DBM informed DA, as well as other agencies with El Niño interventions, to maximize their appropriations and to charge their funding requirements for said interventions to existing programs, activities and projects under their budget. Agencies also have access Quick Response Funds (QRF), which have already been released. The QRF serves as a stand-by fund to stabilize the condition of communities in areas under a state of calamity.”
In addition, the DBM also pointed out that agencies can tap the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund (NDRRMF) to supplement any additional funding requirements.
The budget department also slammed Binay for claiming that the government was slow in releasing funds supposedly for projects under the National Housing Authority (NHA) intended for areas struck by typhoon Yolanda.
DBM says Binay “missed the mark” in making his claims:
“DBM has released P34.4 billion to NHA out of the total requirement of P60 billion for Resettlement, Housing Assistance, and Permanent Shelter Programs under the Yolanda Comprehensive Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Program (CRRP). Of this amount, P2.4 billion was released in the immediate aftermath of the typhoon in 2013.
The total requirement for the rebuilding and rehabilitation of Yolanda-ravaged communities is P150 billion. As of today, DBM has released a total of 105.4 billion to various agencies to fund the CRRP.”
In line with recent statements made by the Vice President, the DBM warned the electorate against candidates who use “falsities presented as facts” for political gain.
“Candidates should be held to the highest standard of honesty when they present claims or make statements. DBM invites discerning Filipinos to consult our resources for data and to be wary of falsities presented as facts by people seeking political gain,” the DBM said.
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