Japan's government is considering drafting a supplementary budget for the current fiscal year running through March to finance disaster relief and reconstruction, a source familiar with the matter said Wednesday.
According to the source, the plan is part of the government's effort to secure financial resources for hard-hit regions, amid a string of disasters that have caused loss of life and property damage.
The supplementary budget, if pursued, would top up the current fiscal year's budget rather than waiting for the next fiscal year. Drafting and passing a supplementary budget typically requires coordination among the relevant ministries and agencies and parliament.
Details on the size, the timing of submission to parliament and specific spending items have not been announced. The government is expected to continue weighing the matter before making a formal decision.
The information comes as Japan has just been hit by a series of disasters, including Typhoon Surigae, which is expected to approach the eastern part of the country, including Tokyo, on Thursday.
