The city council during its regular session on March 30 passed an ordinance which reverted to the general fund the amount of P150-M from savings and re-appropriated the same for the operations of the City Government in dealing with the ongoing COVID-19 crisis. The ordinance was approved on first reading dispensing with the second and third readings.
Mayor Benjamin Magalong who attended the city council’s regular session explained the P150-M is a standby fund which can be used for the rehabilitation of the Sto. Niño Hospital and its conversion into a critical care facility for COVID-19 patients. The said fund will also support other essential operations of the city amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.
Atty. Leticia Clemete, City Budget Officer, said the Local Finance Committee will prepare the Certificate of Availability of Funds for the purpose.
By virtue of two approved resolutions, the city council also authorized Magalong to enter into memoranda of agreement with Sto Niño hospital and with the Department of Health for the said hospital’s rehabilitation and its operation as a specialty hospital for COVID-19 patients.
“At present, we were able to clear 36 rooms in one floor in preparation for the hospital’s conversion into a Baguio City critical care center and we can still use two more floors for its expansion,” Magalong said.
Magalong also disclosed that the management of Baguio General Hospital had emptied an entire building to be utilized as an exclusive facility for COVID-19 patients.
The mayor added that two more structures, Lindi Hotel located along Legarda St. and a certain five-story building located in Tuba, are being eyed as containment facilities for persons under investigation (PUIs).
Furthermore, the P150-M fund is expected to sustain the relief operations of the city government. It will also prop up the anticipated increase of recipients of food packs.
Meanwhile, Betty F. Fangasan, CSWD-Officer, apprised the city council about the ongoing relief operations in the City of Baguio.
According to Fangasan, their office, together with the barangay officials, prepared distribution sheets for each barangay containing the names of the residents whose combined monthly income does not exceed P30,000.00. A number of food packs were then released to the barangays corresponding to the number of households indicated in the distribution sheets. The CSWDO head admitted that only 30 to 40 percent of households in the barangays were given food packs during the first distribution.
Fangasan said all the 128 barangays were able to claim their food supplies for the first distribution. She further said the second distribution should target the households and individuals who are in need but were not given during the first distribution. This should include the students who are renting independently and those who are stranded in the city due to the travel ban.
Fangasan reiterated that the city government’s relief operations give priority to the most underprivileged sector. The city council advised the CSWDO and the barangays through Punong Barangay Ignacio Gallente, Vice President Ignacio Gallente, to always include the stranded students in the priority list as they are some of the most vulnerable individuals in times of crisis, the council said.
Fangasan also emphasized that they strictly monitor the release of food packs to barangays to ensure equitable distribution.
The second distribution is expected to roll out this first week of April, Fangasan said. She pleaded to the barangay officials to turn in their liquidation reports for the first distribution as such is needed for the second release of food packs.** Jordan G. Habbiling
