The Department of Budget of Management (DBM) on Wednesday said the government has a standby calamity fund to aid those affected by the 6.9-magnitude earthquake that jolted Bogo City, Cebu on Tuesday evening.
In a statement, the DBM said the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund (NDRRMF) has a balance of P8.008 billion as of October 1, 2025.
The NDRRMF supports emergency relief and rehabilitation programs for disaster-affected areas, including the repair and reconstruction of public facilities and other capital investments necessary for disaster response.
It can also serve as an additional funding source for the Quick Response Funds (QRF) of agencies when its balance reaches 50%.
Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman called on agencies to promptly activate their QRFs following the directive of President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. to guarantee immediate relief and rehabilitation for communities affected by the Cebu earthquake.
The QRF serves as an emergency standby facility designed to finance urgent relief and recovery initiatives, helping communities return to normalcy after disasters such as earthquakes and typhoons.
Government agencies with built-in QRFs include the Department of Health (DOH), Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Department of National Defense-Office of Civil Defense (DND-OCD), Department of Education (DepEd), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Transportation-Philippine Coast Guard (DOTr-PCG), National Irrigation Administration (NIA), and Department of Agriculture (DA).
These agencies may seek replenishment from the DBM once their QRF balance has been reduced to at least 50%.
"Our prayers go to the families who lost their loved ones and to all who are enduring this tragedy. In moments like this, government aid must never be delayed. Agencies such as the DSWD, DPWH, and OCD have Quick Response Funds that can be tapped immediately to deliver assistance to those affected. We also have the NDRRM Fund on standby for larger-scale needs, including the repair of damaged facilities and heritage sites, to help ensure that our communities can rise again as quickly as possible," said Pangandaman.