Manila, Oct. 7 -- The government has PHP182 billion in available funds that can be used to boost disaster response and rehabilitation efforts following the series of disasters that hit the country recently.

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, who chairs the Senate Committee on Finance, said in a news release on Tuesday the funds include:

-- PHP7 billion balance from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund; --PHP6.4 billion from the Quick Response Fund; --PHP287 million from the Disaster Response Operations Fund of the Office of Civil Defense; --PHP15 billion from the Local Government Support Fund; --PHP12 billion Contingent Fund; and --PHP141 billion Unprogrammed Appropriations, specifically under the Strengthening Assistance f...