By Joseph B.A. Marzan
Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor Jr. said that the province has spent more than P388 million in combatting the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
In a press conference, Defensor said the figure was just an estimate of what had been reported to his office by the province’s COVID-19 team.
“Almost all of our resources have gone to the efforts. This is a running total so far, we have spent P388,787,633.65. We haven’t finished the disbursements. This is not a good figure because we did better than this,” he said.
The provincial government has initially allocated P1 million each to 42 municipalities and Passi City, in the implementation of quarantine procedures and relief efforts.
It also allocated another P291 million, which included expenses for its relief efforts, additional assistance to local government units and procurement of personal protective equipment and other medical equipment, among other expenses.
The governor said that the expenditures mainly went to the implementation of the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) and General Community Quarantine (GCQ) measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
The province had been under ECQ from March 20 to May 15, 2020.
“We spent it based on the implementation of the Executive Orders. We omitted the development of the municipalities’ quarantine facilities and sustaining the returning OFWs,” he said.
He said some municipalities have not yet submitted liquidation reports of the financial aid they received from the provincial government.
He said that he is still finalizing the total report, which will be available after the GCQ expires on May 31.
