Belmonte signs P2.8-B supplemental budget to fund city’s efforts against COVID-19

CALOOCAN CITY, April 18 (PIA)–Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte has signed on Monday, April 13,  a P2.8 billion supplemental budget for 2020 to fund the city government’s effort in combatting COVID-19.

The supplemental budget, approved by the Quezon City Council, will fund the distribution of food packs and financial aid to residents, and the provision of hazard and risk pay to the city government’s plantilla and contractual employees  working as frontliners.

“Wala pong dapat ikabahala ang ating mga residente dahil may nakalaang pondo para patuloy ang pag-alalay natin sa kanila sa gitna ng krisis na ito,” said Belmonte.

As instructed by Belmonte, the bulk or P2.4 billion of the 2020 supplemental budget would be spent on additional food and economic relief to support families, especially those who now have no income due to the mandatory suspension of public transportation and non-essential establishments in the city.

“We allocated additional P697 million for the purchase of more welfare goods for repacking and distribution to families, and P750 million for the provision of cash aid to families not included in the list of beneficiaries of the national government’s Social Amelioration Program,” said Budget Officer Marian Orayani.

She added that another P753 million is allocated for the “Kalingang QC” program for the city’s vulnerable sectors, and for the provision of wages and hazard pay to contractual city government employees who are identified as essential workers and are still required to report to work.

“We also allotted P200 million for the continued adjustment of the wages of our contractual and job-order employees to a livable rate, or not below the minimum P13,000,” said Orayani, adding that hazard pay will be given to all workers on-duty during quarantine.

Under the Kalingang QC Program, solo parents, Persons with Disability (PWD), vendors, and jeepney, tricycle, pedicab, taxi and AUV drivers are given P2,000 cash aid each.

The program was expanded to also cover Transportation Network Vehicle Services (TNVS) drivers, senior citizens and parents of PWDs. (QC PAISD/PIA-NCR)

source https://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/1039361