LGUs spend P119 billion for COVID-19 response

MANILA, Philippines — Local government units (LGUs) have spent roughly P119 billion for their own COVID-19 measures, bulk of which came from their revenue collection efforts and from the national coffers.

The Bureau of Local Government Finance (BLGF) said LGUs used up P118.9 billion as of June 2021 to deliver programs and projects to contain the spread of the coronavirus and mitigate the impact of the pandemic.

It reported that more than 64 percent of the amount or P76.44 billion was obtained by the LGUs from their own collection of fees and taxes.

On the other hand, nearly 30 percent of the disbursement, at P35.44 billion, was taken from the grant provided under the first Bayanihan law. The remaining six percent came from LGU trusts and external donations at P4.93 billion and P2.14 billion, respectively.

BLGF executive director Niño Raymond Alvina said bulk of the spending from LGU collection at P59.03 billion were allocated for local measures to address pandemic concerns.

Alvina said 587 LGUs delivered their own responses for their constituents, of which 482 are municipalities, 68 are cities, and 37 are provinces.

The LGUs also distributed P17.41 billion in financial assistance to sectors most affected by the pandemic such as drivers, senior citizens, and students.

Alvina added that localities have utilized close to 96 percent of the P37.02-billion provision for LGUs under the first Bayanihan law as of June 2021.