LGUs in NegOr to receive aid for COVID-19 response

MINERVA BC NEWMAN

 DUMAGUETE CITY – The local government units (LGUS) in Negros Oriental are expected to receive one million pesos each from the province as financial aid to augment funds for COVID-19 response programs and those LGUS situated at the provincial borders are given additional one million to establish border control points.

Negros Oriental Assistant Provincial Administrator Atty. Froilan Joseph Pinili, in a meeting on April 20 with the Provincial Inter-Agency Task Force - Emerging Infectious Disease (PIATF-EID said that there is already an “advice for allotment” for the release of funds.

 “We are just waiting for the various LGUs to sign the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Provincial Government of Negros Oriental to complete the disbursement of the financial aid,” Pinili added.

According to him that border LGUs such as Vallehermoso, Canlaon City, Basay, and Mabinay including Sibulan and San Jose, due to the presence of seaport terminals there are requested to establish control points as part of the measures to prevent the entry of COVID-19 in the province.

These border LGUs have additional P1 million.  Included in the MOA is to hire personnel to man the borders and to provide transportation and meal allowances, Pinili bared.

Provincial COVID-19 Task Force Executive Director Adrian Sedillo who is also the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Officer (PDRRMO) said that the financial assistance amounting to P31-Million is from the unexpended balances in the local DRRM funds.

Sedillo said that the LGUS have also the responsibility in the response phase in waging and winning the fight against the virus hence, governor Roel Degamo asked the Sangguniang Panlalawigan for additional financial aid to the various cities and towns in the province.

Sedillo revealed that the province had identified some substantial amount from the PDDRMC and recommended to the committee to use this financial assistance with the pandemic under the context of disaster.  The province also did the same in 2020 with each LGUs receiving two million pesos. (Photos: NegOr LGU)