CEBU, Philippines — The Cebu Provincial Board (PB) approved Monday the P1.27-billion supplemental budget, which covers the hazard pay for hospital workers and other Capitol employees standing on the frontlines against COVID-19.
According to Sugbo News, the official news portal of the provincial government, the 2020 Supplemental Budget No. 1 ordinance was passed on first, second and third reading during the provincial board virtual session on July 6 after it was certified urgent by Governor Gwendolyn Garcia.
SB No. 1 was authored by Board Member Glenn Soco of the Sixth District, chairman of the Committee on Budget and Appropriations.
Portion of the budget was set aside for the COVID-19 hazard pay and COVID-19 special risk allowance of medical frontliners, as well as the first tranche implementation of the modified salary schedule pursuant to the Salary Standardization Law of 2019.
Of the total budget, P23.9 million was allotted to four Cebu provincial hospitals (CPHs). The amount is broken down as follows: P6 million, CPH-Balamban; P6.3 million, CPH-Danao; P5.7 million, CPH-Carcar City; and P5.9 million, CPH-Bogo City.
The same salary adjustment and hazard pay will also be given to the workers of the Bantayan District Hospital (P2.9 million), Barili District Hospital (P552,000), Daanbantayan District Hospital (P550,000), Badian District Hospital (P707,000), Isidro Kintanar Memorial Hospital (P880,000), Mariano J. Cuenco Memorial Hospital (P906,000), and Minglanilla District Hospital (P1.2 million).
Also, the Juan Dosado Memorial Hospital will get P1 million, while the Ricardo L. Maningo Memorial Hospital will receive P2.7 million.
Other district hospitals will get P880,000 (Tuburan District Hospital), P520,000 (Jose Maria V. Borromeo Memorial Hospital), and P592,000 for Oslob District Hospital.
Last April 13, the PB, in its first-ever online session, had approved a resolution authorizing Garcia to grant P500 as hazard pay to the personnel of the provincial government who continue to report for work amid risks of contracting the coronavirus.
The granting of hazard pay to government workers who physically report for work during the quarantine period is in consonance with President Rodrigo Duterte’s Administrative Order 26.
Moreover, the first supplemental budget also includes aid for municipal governments, city governments and barangays under the province.
Included in the appropriations are the P570,000,000 assistance to cities and municipalities and P302,030,000 assistance to barangays. KQD (FREEMAN)