The administration of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has released an initial P362 million to accelerate the rehabilitation of infrastructure in areas affected by the magnitude 7.8 earthquake that struck Mindanao on June 8.
The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) said the funding, sourced from the Local Government Support Fund (LGSF), will be directly downloaded to affected local government units in Sarangani, General Santos City, and South Cotabato to fast-track repair and reconstruction efforts.
DBM Acting Secretary Kim Robert C. De Leon said the directive from the President is to ensure immediate government response without delay.
“Hindi po dapat naghihintay ang mga mamamayan sa oras ng sakuna. Malinaw po ang direktiba ni Pangulong Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.—dapat maramdaman agad ng mga naapektuhang komunidad ang tulong ng pamahalaan,” Sec. De Leon said.
He added that the initial release is intended to restore critical infrastructure and normalize conditions in affected areas.
“Nagpalabas po tayo ng inisyal na ₱362 milyon upang mapabilis ang pagkukumpuni at muling pagtatayo ng mga kritikal na pasilidad at imprastraktura sa Sarangani, General Santos City, at South Cotabato. Layunin natin na maibalik agad sa normal ang pamumuhay ng ating mga kababayan,” he said.
The DBM detailed that P100 million was earlier released on June 9 to the City Government of General Santos for the repair of a multipurpose building in Barangay Dadiangas East.
This was followed by P140 million for Sarangani on June 15, covering the rehabilitation of multipurpose buildings, a local road, a bridge project in Alabel, and repairs to a hospital facility and road network in Glan.
On the same day, P122 million was allocated to South Cotabato for the concreting of a key road linking Barangays Acmonan and Kablon in Tupi, aimed at improving mobility and supporting economic recovery.
The DBM said the P362 million release is part of a broader national disaster response framework, with additional resources available through the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund (NDRRMF) and agency Quick Response Funds (QRFs).
“Ang inilabas nating P362 milyon ay paunang tulong pa lamang. Nananatiling may sapat at nakahandang pondo ang pamahalaan upang suportahan ang patuloy na relief, rehabilitation, at recovery efforts,” the budget chief said.
He added that government agencies may also tap or replenish their QRFs once utilization reaches the prescribed threshold, ensuring sustained funding for disaster operations.