ILOILO City – The city government here realigned the budget intended for the redevelopment of public plazas to finance the construction of a coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) laboratory.
Mayor Jerry Treñas said he is giving priority to the completion and operation of the city’s own COVID-19 laboratory in Barangay San Pedro, Molo district.
The facility, with a project cost of P29 million for its Phase 1, is expected to be operational within this month.
Treñas explained that when funds from the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority for the plazas of Iloilo were realigned to COVID activities by the national government, the city government appropriated part of its surplus for the year for the improvement of the plazas.
However, because the city’s COVID lab will be needing consumables, the city will have to realign again part of the Plaza Improvement Program to the needed consumables, the mayor said.
Treñas said the city government will look for funds next year for the improvement of the plazas.
The city mayor believes the beautification of plazas can wait while the welfare of the city resident against COVID-19 is a top priority.
“Ang pagpatahum sang aton syudad, makahulat ina. Unahon naton anay ang kaayuhan sang aton mga pumuluyo,” said Treñas./PN
