BAGUIO CITY – The city government has PHP258.5 million in its coffers allocated for efforts to contain the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).
Dexter See of the city information office said the funds come from the PHP30.4 million quick response fund of the local disaster risk reduction and management; the PHP78.1 million released by the Department of Budget and Management -- the national government's assistance equivalent to one-month Internal Revenue Allotment; and the PHP150 million the city council had earlier realigned from unimplemented city projects.
The bulk of the fund will be used to provide relief items for over 93,000 households in the city.
City Budget Officer Leticia Clemente said the fund from DBM can be used for a specific purpose only such as the procurement of medicines and supplies, personal protective equipment (PPE), food supply for volunteers, relief goods for the beneficiaries and other Covid-related operations.
She said the fund could not be used for hazard pay and special risk allowance of barangay health workers and volunteers, as well as elected officials.
Meanwhile, the PHP10.24 million approved by the city council as financial assistance to the 128 barangays will be charged to the PHP150 million fund.
The city government earlier earmarked PHP5.7 million as an augmentation to the barangay's anti-Covid efforts.
Last week, the city council had also approved on first reading the proposed ordinance allocating a portion of the PHP150 million for the insurance of barangay front-liners and volunteers.
"The payment of the insurance premiums of front-liners in the city's barangays is part of the effort to provide them with non-cash benefits that are allowed to be given to motivate them to continue working," the city council resolution read.
Officials, health workers, and volunteers in barangays are tasked to help the national government in the campaign to prevent the spread of the virus in communities.
"The ordinance stipulates that paying the insurance premiums of front-liners in the city’s barangays will greatly help in easing the burden of paying their insurance so they can concentrate their efforts in providing quality services to the residents whom they are mandated to serve," the proposal read. (PNA)
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Topic: Baguio has over P258-M coronavirus response fund (Read 219 times)