SAN JOSE, Antique – The Antique provincial government board recently approved the P34.391 million fund for the purchase of medicines, personal protective equipment (PPEs) and food for the residents of the province affected by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak.
According to Provincial Board Member Fernando Corvera Sr., the said amount would be taken from the 2018 and 2019 Special Trust Funds.
“Our governor has requested for the approval of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council resolution for the use of the Special Trust Funds,” said Corvera, who presided over the regular session of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan on March 26.
The Special Trust Fund amounts to P23,491,441.61 and P10.9 million for 2019 and 2018, respectively.
For his part, Dr. Ric Noel Naciongayo of the Integrated Provincial Health Office, who was present during the Provincial Board session, said that they need to have the budget to buy medicines for persons under investigation and PPEs for the health workers.
He added: “As of now, our front-line health workers are just using modified PPEs because of the grave demand for them.”
The Antique Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office, on the other hand, is requesting P9.5 million of the approved budget to purchase food packs for the targeted 27,000 Antiqueño families displaced due to the implementation of the enhanced community quarantine in this province. (With a report from PNA/PN)
