By Antonio Colina IV
DAVAO CITY – Mayor Sara Duterte said the city government of Davao has spent at least P476 million to respond to the coronavirus disease (COVID)-19 outbreak.
Mayor Sara Duterte (Facebook / MANILA BULLETIN)
In an interview aired live over Davao City Disaster Radio (DCDR) 87.5, Duterte said the amount was on top of the budget for other COVID-19 response-related activities taken from other fund sources, like peace and order fund, City Mayor’s Office, Public Enhancement Service Fund, and trust fund.
The grant was taken from P30.8 billion the “Bayanihan Grant to Cities and Municipalities” of the national government.
She said all local government units were mandated to disburse the funds to address COVID-19 pandemic.
She said “one Bayanihan grant” was equivalent to one month of internal revenue allotment of the local government.
She added the biggest chunk of the budget went to food for COVID-19 responders in the city, including rations that totaled 788,656 food packs as of May 8 since the food ration started last March 23.
“The biggest expenditure is for food. The food that is distributed by the CSWDO (City Social Welfare and Development Office) for members of our COVID-19 workforce, DCPO (Davao City Police Office), 911, and everyone from community quarantine until general community Quarantine,” she said.
Duterte, who donated her one-year salary to trust fund for medical workers acquiring COVID-19 from their work, earlier said the city government shouldered hospital expenses of COVID-19 patients and cremation of cadavers of suspected or confirmed COVID-19.