Malacañang stated "Standby funds" for the evacuation not needed in Middle East

Photo Courtesy: Rappler

As the tension increase in the Middle Eas showing signs of de-escalation, Malacañang stated, January 14, Tuesday, that President Rodrigo Duterte demanded to Congress to.make a "standby fund" that could easily tapped the large-scale of evacuation in the said region. "With respect to the Middle East, because there has been a de-escalation of conflict there, I suppose that's the reason why the President did not pursue his request or call Congress to special session," Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo told reporters in a press briefing in Malacañang. Duterte ordered the lawmakers to convoke a special session and create a "standby funds" for the mass evacuation of Filipinos in Middle East. P4.1 Trillion have signed in 2020 budget last January 6, saying President Duterte estimated that the government would need "billions" in order to mobilize troops and officials if evacuation would be needed. Plans for the billion-peso fund would no longer push through with no update from the President, according to Panelo's latest remarks. Philippine government could easily access a total of P1.82 billion assured by The Department of Budget and Management considering the Filipino workers' repatriation, with or without the President's Pronouncement.