Iligan City Mayor Regencia commits at least PhP360 Million use to help Iliganons to survive in corona virus pandemic crisis

By Jun Enriquez

Iligan City - Philippine President Rodrigo Roa Duterte was empowered by congress through the Republic Act No. 11469, otherwise known as Bayanihan to Heal as One Act,” approved March 24, 2020, declaring National Emergency arising from the corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

However, the nationwide Enhance Community Quarantine (ECQ) started March 16 until April 14, 2020 to prevent the escalation of the dreaded corona virus disease (COVID-19) of local transmission. In the said law, President Duterte was also empowered to realign budget to at least PhP200 Billion to  mobilize assistance and help for the Filipino people during the ECQ period.

Presidential proclamation 922 series 2020 mandates creating the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF), among others, to implement the ECQ program for the protection and safety of the people against COVD-19. The Congress required Duterte to provide reports weekly, every Monday, for the updates of the ECQ program implementation. Just recently, the ECQ was extended until April 30, 2020 in Luzon area.

The COVID-19 pandemic first striked in Wuhan City in Hubie province of China in December 2019 and later-on the World Health Organization (WHO) alarmed the whole world in January 2020 about the incident and declared it pandemic sometime in February 2020. US President Trump insisted that COVD-19 was originated coming from China, likewise, China accused the US military who brought it to China. The WHO advised the many countries to keep social distancing at least one meter apart and maintain personal hygiene, as much as possible to stay at home to prevent massive community transmission and the cause of deaths. The WHO is working in cooperation with the countries around the world to end the covid-19 pandemic by flattening the curve.

President Duterte urged the support from the local government units (LGUs) in the implementation of the Enhance community quarantine (ECQ) and mobilize assistance of basic necessities to families and individuals affected by the imposition of the ECQ. Duterte said immediately provide healthcare including medical tests and treatment to COVID-19 patients, persons under investigation (PUIs), persons under monitoring (PUMs) in coordination with the national government, especially on the Department of health (DOH).

In Iligan City, Mayor Celso Regencia issued series of Executive orders (EOs) implementing ECQ and to mobilize assistance to the constituents of 44 barangays. Regencia also implemented Curfew hours during the early evening to early morning the following day for at least 10 hours daily. The latest curfew hour implementation will start at 7:00 P.M. to 5:00 A.M., based on the Executive order number (EO) 37 dated April 9, 2020. The ECQ in Iligan City is extended until April 30, 2020 ordering people to maintain social distancing, always keep on personal hygiene and washing hands, especially stay at home to avoid community transmissions of COVID-19 pandemic.

During the press briefing on April 9, 2020, Dr. Quitos, Infectious disease specialist of the Iligan City Health Office told reporters that there were seven Persons under Investion (PUIs) for the past seven days placed on self-quarantine and identified no persons under monitoring (PUMs). The Iligan covid and treatment facility (ICTF) located at the Iligan City National High School (ICNHS) had admitted one patient suspected of covid-19. Any persons with the same symptoms of covid is considered suspect of covid-19. Quitos admittedly gave no assurance that Iligan City has no local transmissions on covid-19 because only the Department of Health (DOH) can give assurance that Iligan City has or no local transmissions base on test results.

Regencia in his pronouncement during the press conference dated March 30, 2020, stressed out that the local government of Iligan City is much prepared to extend assistance for Iligan constituents during the period of the ECQ, with at least 12,000-13,000 bags of rice stocked at the NSC compound to be distributed to the 44 Barangays of Iligan City. This was confirmed by the Association of Barangay Council (ABC) President and City Councilor Cesarve Siacor that the 10,000 bags of imported rice Princess bea brand at 25 kilograms per bag had been released and distributed to barangay constituents to be repacked at 3 kilograms of rice per family.

Added to this, Regencia told reporters of the March 30 press conference thru the Philippine Information Agency (PIA), Iligan City, of a full video coverage posted in facebook, that the Iligan City LGU has available calamity fund for 2019 amounted to at least PhP30 Million, another calamity fund for the year 2020 amounted to PhP104 Million and a buffer fund amounted to PhP34.4 Million.  In general, a total amount of PhP168.4 million to fund the basic needs of the people of Iligan City.

In another media briefing on April 9, 2020 live streamed in the official facebook page of Iligan City Government, Regencia again told reporters that there is available funds in the amount of PhP137.6 Million intended for the Bayanihan program due to COVID-19 crisis equivalent to the one month internally revenue allotment (IRA), a remaining balance of calamity fund for 2020 is amounted to PhP74 Million from the original amount of PhP104 Million with approximately spent the amount of PhP30 Million, and savings of calamity fund from 2013-2019 is amounted to PhP84 Million. In summation, a progressive total is amounted to PhP295.6 Million.

Regencia said there is a separate fund from the approved loan from the PHILHEALTH amounted to PhP48 Million for medical assistance intended for COVD related illnesses.

Many people in Iligan City complaining because only 3 kilograms of rice received per family from the Barangay council and another 3 kilograms provided from the local government. Iligan city constituents expected that the next round of food assistance will be 25 kilograms and grocery items including canned goods because there is money intended for the crisis but has never been released yet.

Based on the pronouncements of Mayor Regencia in a series of press briefing held in Iligan City, dated March 30 and April 9, data collected will have a combined funds for the following; a buffer fund at PhP34.4 Million, the remaining balance of 2020 calamity fund at PhP74 Million from the original amount of PhP104 Million, an IRA for one month at PhP137.6 Million, and savings of calamity fund from 2013-2019 is amounted to PhP84 Million. Therefore, a progressive total of the combined funds amounted to PhP360 Million to be used for the basic needs of the people during the entire duration of the COVID-19 pandemic crisis in Iligan City.

A socio-economic analysis based on 2015 census, Iligan City is populated with 342,618 people. Given the estimated average of 4 individuals per family will have a total estimates at 85,655 families. Based on the progressive total fund at PhP360 Million, therefore, every family is entitled to received PhP4,203.00 in a form of cash or food items enough to provide 25 kilograms of rice and grocery items including canned goods for the rest of the ECQ implementation. Reiterating to this, the 12,000-13,000 bags of rice and the loan amount at PhP48 Million for medical assistance are expected for a separate funds. with reports by Hermie Arcilla.