Last Monday, January 22, 2018, the Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) of the Province of Albay was released by the DBM, allowing the said province to tap its Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund (LDRRMF).

“The IRA of all Local Government Units (LGUs), including that of the Province of Albay, was releasedon Monday. Normally, the funds would be downloaded simultaneously to all LGUs. However, given the situation in Albay, we made a request to the Bureau of Treasury to expedite the downloading of funds to Albay,” DBM Secretary Benjamin Diokno said.

The Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund (LDRRMF) amounting to not less than five percent of the LGU’s estimated revenues from regular sources is set aside to support disaster risk management activities. 30% of the LDRRMF is earmarked as a Quick Response Fund (QRF) and 70% is allocated for disaster prevention and mitigation, preparedness, response, rehabilitation and recovery.

The total LDRRMF of Albay for FY 2018 isP94.2 million, with P28.26 million dedicated to Quick Response, and P65.94 million for Capital Outlays (CO) and Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses (MOOE) related to disaster prevention and mitigation, preparedness, response, rehabilitation and recovery.

Aside from the LDRRMF for FY 2018, LGUs can also tap into the unutilized LDRRMF for the past five years which is set up as a Trust Fund. The LDRRMF balance of Albay for FY 2017 is an estimated P39.2 million.

As of January 23, 2018, the Province of Albay has incurred expenses totalling to P21.2 million in response to the Mt. Mayon eruption.

National Government Agencies (NGAs) are also monitoring the situation in Albay and providing relief and assistance in their own capacity. NGAs have an available P7.6 billion in Quick Response Funds; P7 billion from which has already been comprehensively released to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of National Defense (DND), Department of Health (DOH), Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Department of Education (DepEd), and Department of Agriculture (DA).

Aside from the QRF, NGAs may also source funds from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund (NDRRMF) which has a balance of P19.6 billion for FY 2018.

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