QC gov’t OKs additional P1.9-B supplemental budget to fight COVID-19

Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO / NINO JESUS ORBETA

MANILA, Philippines — The local government of Quezon City has approved a second and third supplemental budget, totaled at P1.9 billion overall, for its coronavirus disease (COVID-19) response.

In a statement on Tuesday, Mayor Joy Belmonte approved the budget, where part of it will be allocated to the financial assistance to people excluded from the government’s Social Amelioration Program (SAP) as well as additional food packs for residents.

Previously, the QC local government approved its first supplemental budget—amounting to P2.8 billion—to address the impact of COVID-19 in the city.

The P479-million second supplemental budget was released by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) last April 17, as the city government’s one month share from its internal revenue. This budget will be used to purchase relief goods.

The P1.43-billion third supplemental budget, meanwhile, includes P750 million for SAP assistance, where qualified families left out of the government’s cash aid assistance program will receive P4,000.

Under Republic Act 11469 or the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act, 18 million low-income families will receive P5,000 to P8,000, depending on prevailing minimum wage rates, for two months during the COVID-19 crisis.

According to the QC government, out of the estimated 723,822 families in Quezon City, only 377,584 were given Social Amelioration Cards.

“Hindi puwedeng may maiiwan. Dapat lahat ng kuwalipikado ay mabigyan ng tulong kaya inaprubahan natin ang dagdag na pondo,” Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte said.

(No one should be left behind. All those qualified should be given assistance that’s why we approved the additional budget.)

“Sinikap nating maisakatuparan ito dahil marami ang nagpaabot ng kanilang hinaing sa regular na pag-iikot ko sa mga barangay upang personal na alamin ang kanilang mga pangangailangan,” she added.

(We are doing our best to make this possible because some people have expressed grievances when I went around several barangays to personally know what they need.)

Metro Manila is still under enhanced community quarantine, which has been extended to May 15, due to rising COVID-19 cases.

The Philippines, as of Monday, has 7,777 confirmed COVID-19 cases, with 932 recoveries and 511 deaths.

JPV