Deputy Speaker and Iloilo Rep. Janette Garin said Congress should closely review the Quick Response Funds (QRFs) allocated to government agencies under the proposed 2027 national budget to ensure resources are readily available for basic services during calamities.
“‘Yung quick response fund ng bawat ahensya, napakaimportante noon. So, ‘yan ‘yung isa naming titingnan kung saan ba pinaggagastusan,” Garin said during an online press briefing Monday, as the Executive submits the proposed National Expenditure Program to Congress.
Garin noted that House Speaker Faustino “Bojie” G. Dy III and Majority Leader Ferdinand Alexander “Sandro” A. Marcos have been coordinating with national government agencies to identify urgent funding gaps highlighted by recent heavy rains and flooding across the country.
She emphasized that recent disasters underscore the need for faster access to resources, particularly for health services, clean water and the immediate restoration of damaged infrastructure.
“Makikita mo minsan na maraming kailangan nila, like right there and then, meron kang mga nasugatan, natamaan ng kung ano-ano na aksidente dahil sa sama ng panahon,” Garin said. “Ito ay puwedeng paggastusan ng quick response fund, lalo’t lalo na kapag sila ay nangangailangan ng mga anti-tetanus shots and everything, ‘yung mga bakuna na kailangan sa evacuation centers.”
The former health secretary also stressed the importance of funding immediate access to medicines for waterborne diseases, safe drinking water and small-scale infrastructure repairs that strain local government unit (LGU) budgets.
“Personally, we would like to look at how, paano, ano ang pwedeng proseso na magkaroon ng immediate na pagtugon sa basic services like provision of clean water, restoration of lines and of course, ‘yung immediate repair and accessibility,” Garin said, pointing out that small municipalities often lack funds to repair damaged hanging bridges and overflow structures. “Baka naman kulang ‘yung pondo ng ating mga munisipyo, lalo na kung maliliit.”
To address immediate manpower needs, Garin cited the House leadership’s coordination with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to augment Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) beneficiaries for community repairs.
“Nung kinausap ni Speaker Bojie Dy at ni Majority Leader Sandro Marcos ang [DOLE], nagkaroon ng augmentation ng TUPAD workers,” Garin said. “‘Yung mga materials ay nanggagaling sa LGU o sa barangay para sa immediate repair at ‘yung manpower naman ay siniswelduhan ng DOLE. So ‘yung partnership na ‘yun ay nakakapagpaayos agad-agad ng mga nasira o ‘yung mga nabara na mga overflow bridges at hanging bridges.”
Garin concluded that the upcoming budget deliberations will allow Congress to ensure both the sufficiency of disaster response mechanisms and agency accountability. “‘Yan ‘yung isa naming titingnan kung saan ba pinagagastusan. So, andun ‘yung accountability ng ating mga Cabinet secretaries,” she said.