CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (PIA)–In responding to coronavirus disease (COVID)-19 crisis, the local government units (LGUs) in the region have utilized about P1.4 billion or 81.9 percent of the P1.7 billion Bayanihan Grant from the national government.
During the NorMin COVID-19 Response Task Force press conference, July 7, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG)-10 Regional Director Arnel Agabe said the grant is intended to augment the funding requirements for the operation of provincial, district, and other local hospitals operated by the provincial government, for COVID-19 related expenses.
For Bukidnon, 23 LGUs have received a total grant of P581 million where P446 million has already been already used (76.7 percent). About P135 million is left unutilized in the province.
In Camiguin, P28 million or 87.9 percent has been utilized from the P32 million grant. The province has only P4 million unutilized funds.
For the 23 LGUs in Lanao del Norte, P204 million or 94.6 percent has been used up for COVID-19 related activities from the P216 million Bayanihan Grant. They only have P11 million to spend for such purposes.
In Misamis Occidental, P266 million has been granted and P160 million or 60.4 percent has been utilized. The province still has P105 million left for their COVID-19 related activities.
Misamis Oriental is on its 99.6 percent utilization of the Bayanihan Grant. About P340 million is granted to the province and they have already spent P338 million.
For the highly urbanized cities, Cagayan de Oro City has spent P130 million from its P156 million grant or 83.5 percent utilization. The city still has P25 million to spend for its crisis response.
As for Iligan City, P108 million (78.8 percent) is already utilized from its P137 million grant. They have P29 million unutilized funds as of press time.
Agabe said the Bayanihan Grant was used specifically for the procurement of personal protective equipment (PPE); equipment, reagents, and kits for COVID-19 testing; medicines and vitamins; and hospital equipment and supplies; disinfectants, sprayers, and other disinfecting supplies and misting equipment.
Also, the grant may also be used for food, transportation (including fuel), and accommodation expenses of health workers and other personnel of the provincial, district, and other local hospitals operated by the provincial government; expenses for the construction/repair/lease/rental of additional space/building to accommodate COVID-19 patients and persons under monitoring/investigation;
It can also be utilized for expenses on training of medical/health personnel of the provincial, district, and other local hospitals operated by the provincial government relative to the conduct of COVID-19 testing and other related training.
The Bayanihan Grant also covers the expenses for the operation and maintenance of duly established provincial checkpoints related to COVID-19, such as provision of foods, medicines/vitamins, PPE, and disinfecting supplies for the exclusive use of provincial government employees and personnel concerned, including those hired under contract of service and job order schemes. (RTP/PIA10)
