Negros SP okays P155-M for COVID-19 response

By Dolly Yasa

BACOLOD City – The Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Negros Occidental approved the P155,247,332 budget that will be used by the provincial government to combat the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Vice Governor Jeffrey Ferrer said the P155.2-M fund is included in the P198.126-million supplemental budget requested by the office of Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson.

Some P100 million is set aside for the repair of the Teresita L. Jalandoni Provincial Hospital TJPH in Silay City which was designated to accommodate COVID-19 patients and persons under monitoring and investigation.

Another P50 million is for the purchase of equipment, reagents, and kits for the COVID-19 testing laboratory at TLJPH.

Some P5,247,332 is for the preparation of the Yolanda housing project in Cadiz City which was designated as another quarantine site in the province, the vice governor said.

The supplemental budget also included P30 million for the Office of the Governor for grants and donations, Treasurer’s Office traveling and training expenses (P1 million), Treasurer’s Office accountable forms and fidelity bond (P2.3M), subsidy for Cauayan District Hospital (P1.5M), Provincial Veterinary Office support for drive versus African Swine Fever (P500,000), Provincial Engineer’s Office for repairs and maintenance of infrastructure assets (P2M), Provincial Environment Management Office traveling expenses (P855,072), and Office of the Provincial Agriculturist’s general services (P4,524,066).