“No government is prepared for COVID-19, but we need to do everything that we can do,” Governor Nelson Dayanghirang said during the meeting with the members of the Local Finance Committee last week as he asked them to identify all funds from the provincial government’s coffers that can be used for COVID-19 response and food security interventions.

Just recently, Governor Nelson Dayanghirang announced that the Provincial Government has allotted a total of P186.9 million funding intended for programs, projects, and activities related to COVID-19 response which was made available through the Supplemental Appropriation Ordinance passed by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan last week.

The P186.9 million will only be utilized for priority programs which include health services and food security, among many others which are anchored to the national government’s “Bayanihan To Heal as One Act” (Republic Act No. 11469) which bid to ensure the welfare of the Filipinos and to prevent or suppress further transmission and spread of COVID-19 through various measures.

The said funding was sourced out from the realigned budget from “other locally funded PPAs, Gender and Development Fund, Local Council for the protection of children, senior citizens and persons with disabilities, 5% LDRRMF-capital outlay, 20% Development Fund” made possible through a separate ordinance.

Governor Dayanghirang said that the main priority now is to protect the safety, health, food security of the people of the province.
He added that the 5 percent Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund intended for calamities is not enough if the pandemic prolongs, prompting his leadership to take decisive actions.
Meanwhile, the rest of the local government units are following suit in appropriating and realigning their own funds in support of the Republic Act. (kld-PIO)