Special earthquake fund being set up
After the emotion, it is time for action. The plan, announced following last Saturday’s meeting chaired by the King, includes a number of measures. One of these is to collect voluntary contributions in support of the rebuilding of homes destroyed by the earthquake that devastated several regions of the country. The aim is also to mobilize the means and funding vectors for the many reconstruction operations that need to be undertaken as quickly as possible, so that normal life can resume. With this in mind, the Minister for the Budget presented this week the draft decree setting up the Special Fund to manage the effects of the earthquake in the Kingdom of Morocco.
The creation of this Fund falls within the framework of the Organic Law on Finance. The special account, which is to be opened with the TGR (General Treasury of the Kingdom) and the central bank (Bank Al-Maghrib), is intended to receive voluntary solidarity contributions from citizens and private and public organizations. The services of the Ministry in charge of the Budget have been working since Saturday to prepare the draft decree setting up this special account, which will be created from the date of publication of the decree in the Official Bulletin. The account has been named «Fonds spécial pour la gestion des effets du tremblement de terre survenus au Royaume du Maroc» (Special fund for managing the effects of the earthquake in the Kingdom of Morocco).
In terms of appropriations, the Fund includes sums paid from the general budget, as well as contributions from local authorities, public establishments and companies and the private sector. In addition, there are contributions from international organizations, refunds of expenditure booked to the account, donations and bequests, and miscellaneous resources.
Interested parties can make their contributions by credit card via the web portal of TGR (www. tgr.gov.ma). They can also make payments in cash or by bank cheque to public accountants working for the TGR at national level, i.e. ministerial treasurers, regional treasurers, prefectoral, or provincial treasurers, and tax collectors. The same applies to the accounting officers of the Kingdom of Morocco’s diplomatic and consular missions abroad. Bank cheques should be made out to the public accountant (ministerial treasurer, regional treasurer, prefectural or provincial treasurer, tax collector or accounting officer abroad). Bank cheques and cash payments will be accompanied by a declaration of payment or a receipt, as appropriate.
Mohamed CHAOUI
