An additional fund of PHP160-million will be used by the city government here for measures against the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).
The allocation is under the Supplemental Investment Program approved on Tuesday by the City Development Council (CDC), chaired by Mayor Evelio Leonardia.
The city government is strengthening its measures to contain Covid-19 as Bacolod recorded its eighth case on Tuesday night.
“I was informed by the City Health Office that one patient has been declared positive, which brings the total to eight. We have to continue our campaign for awareness, cooperation, and support to avoid the spread of the disease,” Leonardia said.
The additional fund will be used to buy more personal protective equipment, test kits, welfare goods, and other needs.
The PHP20-million budget for the establishment of a microbiology laboratory testing facility at the Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital is also included in the allocation.
The Supplemental Investment Program was endorsed by the CDC to the City Council on Wednesday.
Of the PHP160 million, a total of PHP119-million will be sourced from the financial assistance allocated by the national government to Bacolod through the “Bayanihan Grant to Cities and Municipalities”.
The amount is equivalent to the one-month Internal Revenue Allotment share given to Bacolod to boost its capacity to respond to the Covid-19 crisis.
The rest of the supplemental fund will come from the savings of the city government.
During the meeting of the CDC with the barangay officials on Tuesday, Leonardia was joined by Lone District Rep. Greg Gasataya, Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran, who chairs the Inter-Agency Task Force Against Covid-19, and other city officials. (Nanette Guadalquiver ndb via pna)