Roxas City programs ‘Bayanihan Grant’ to curb COVID-19
ROXAS CITY, Capiz, April 17 (PIA) — Roxas City mayor Ronnie Dadivas said that the P54.1-million Bayanihan Grant for the city will be used in various COVID-19 programs, projects and activities (PPAs) as directed in Republic Act No. 11469 or the Bayanihan We Heal As One Act and subsequent related policies and circulars.
“I would like to thank the national government and President Rodrigo Duterte for this allocation. This is a big amount which can help on the needs of the city residents who are greatly affected by the crisis,” he said, speaking directly from his office at the City Hall over an evening program Zona Libre of a local Bombo Radyo station.
“A big portion of the budget amounting to P29,385,000.00 will go to food assistance and other relief goods because we do not know until when this health emergency will end,” he stressed.
The city government will also buy Personal Protective Equipment, COVID-19 testing kits, hospital equipment and supplies, medicines as well as vitamins for residents aside from setting aside a budget for the food, transportation and other expenses of the frontliners.
The mayor also noted the rental of temporary shelter, if needed, and the cremation as well as burial assistance from the allocation.
Department of Budget and Management Local Budget Circular No. 125 issued on April 7 provides that the Bayanihan Grant for Cities and Municipalities (BGCM) shall be exclusively used for COVID-19-related PPAs and expenses that will be subject to to existing procurement, budgeting, accounting and auditing rules and regulations.
The city’s share forms part of the P30.8 billion for BGCM to boost the capacity of the cities and municipalities in responding to the COVID-19 situation.
BGCM is a one-time financial assistance equivalent to a one-month Fiscal Year 2020 Internal Revenue Allotment share of the cities and municipalities.
The released BGCM amount shall be used by the recipient cities and municipalities for the duration of the State of Calamity as declared by the President by virtue of Proclamation No. 929 issued on March 16 this year.
Funds which remain unutilized after the lifting of the State of Calamity shall be reverted to the National Treasury by the recipient cities and municipalities.
A creation of a special account as requested by mayor Dadivas was also approved by the Sangguniang Panlungsod during a regular session this week for the BGCM fund allotment. (JBG/AAL/PIA Capiz)
source https://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/1039222