MANILA, Philippines – The President has signed a supplemental budget for 2014 for disaster rehabilitation and reconstruction programs.

The P14.6-billion budget, approved by both houses of Congress, was signed by President Benigno Aquino III on December 26. It is in addition to the calamity funds approved in the P2.265-trillion budget for 2014.

The supplemental budget will be used for rehabilitation programs for areas affected by Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan), as well as previous disasters and calamities, including typhoons Labuyo, Odette, Pablo, Sendong, Santi, Vinta and Yolanda; the earthquake in Bohol and Cebu; and the Zamboanga City siege.

Communications Secretary Sonny Coloma said the government continues to help areas hit by Yolanda through its recovery and rehabilitation plan.

“Simula naman po noong tinatalakay ito sa Gabinete ay walang humpay iyong pagsulong nitong programang ito going to various stages of refinement, concretization, fleshing out at ngayon nga po ay meron na tayong Presidential Assistant on Recovery and Reconstruction na isinusulong din po ang programang iyan,” Coloma said.

(Since the first day the Cabinet discussed this program, it has not stopped working on it, going to various stages of refinement, concretization, fleshing out and now we have a Presidential Assistant on Recovery and Reconstruction who is also improving the program).

The amount will be sourced from lawmakers’ remaining Priority Development Assistance Fund for 2013, which effectively turned into savings after the Supreme Court declared it as unconstitutional.

Earlier, both chambers of Congress also passed a resolution extending the validity of the President’s calamity fund and departments’ Quick Response Funds in the 2013 budget for calamity-related purposes. The amount is pegged at P12 billion. – Rappler.com