P15.5-B calamity fund ready for El Nino

Government agencies can still tap over P15 billion in disaster funds to mitigate the impacts of El Niño, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) said yesterday.

- LOUISE MAUREEN SIMEON

As of April 24, the DBM said the national disaster risk reduction management fund, more commonly known as the calamity fund, stood at P15.507 billion.

Since the start of the year, some P4.99 billion has already been released from the total P20.5 billion allocation under the 2024 national budget.

"We are prepared to support all operations that seek to cushion the negative impacts of the dry spell affecting various provinces in the country," Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman said.