Use of P40 million for COVID-19 measures gets green light

CEBU, Philippines —  The Cebu City Council has allowed charging P40 million in COVID-19 expenditures of the City Health Department (CHD) against the Quick Response Fund (QRF) of the Local Disaster Reduction and Management Fund 2022.

In her resolution approved during the last regular session, Councilor Jocelyn said the move is necessary to continuously implement measures to address the public health emergency and to promote the health and well-being of the residents of the city.

Pesquera said that P5 million of the P40 million will be allocated for the city’s COVID-19 activities, while the P35 million will be for the normal operations of the CHD, which include the different health centers.

The CHD said the P5 million budget will be used as the department prepares to continuously manage a simultaneous opening of vaccination sites, “which entails a heavy expenses to sustain its capacity and operations.”

Meanwhile, part of the P35 million will be utilized by the department in its purchase of anti-rabies vaccines.

The Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CDRRMC) also approved Resolution No. 021, series of 2022, recommending to the Sangguniang Panlungsod to pass a resolution in connection to the CHD’s request.

“There is an indubitable necessity to continuously employ such measures to address the public health emergency to protect and promote the health and well-being of the residents of the City of Cebu, and mitigate its effect,” read CDRRMC Resolution No. 021.

Per the resolution, the CHD is mandated to promote health, prevent the occurrence of illnesses, and control the spread of communicable diseases by providing the highest standard of quality health services to its constituents, especially to the underserved populace by mobilizing communities, empowering people, and saving lives through the years.

National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council Resolution No. 08, series of 2021, recommended the re-extension of the declaration of State of Calamity throughout the Philippines for a period of one year from September 13, 2021 to September 12, 2022, unless earlier lifted or extended as circumstances may warrant.

This declaration effectively affords the local government units to continue to implement the COVID-19 vaccination program; utilize appropriate funds, including the QRF, in their disaster preparedness and response efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19.

Section 22 (c) of Republic Act No. 10121 and Section 5(b) of NDRRMC Memorandum No. 60, series of 2019, provides that the QRF shall be utilized for relief and recovery programs in order that situation and living conditions of people in communities or areas stricken by disasters, calamities, epidemics, or complex emergencies, may be normalized as quickly as possible. -- JMD (FREEMAN)