GOVERNOR Eugenio Jose Lacson assured that the programs and projects of the Provincial Government are not affected by the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic.
Atty. Rayfrando Diaz, provincial administrator, also said that the provincial government expenses for Covid-19 are for the purchase of rice distributed to the different cities and municipalities in the province which came from the grants and donations under the office of the governor.
Aside from the rice assistance, the provincial government allocated P5 million each to E.B. Magalona town and Cadiz City where the two quarantine centers of the province are located, Diaz said.
Diaz added that another P2.5 million was allocated for the food of Negrenses, nurses, policemen, and utility workers who are under quarantine.
These came from the extra Internal Revenue Allotment of the province provided by the national government to all LGUs in the fight against Covid-19, he also said.
The provincial government has just completed the third wave of distribution of rice assistance to the local government units (LGUs).
The provincial government also set aside P50 million for the bio- lab at the Teresita Lopez Jalandoni Provincial Hospital in Silay City, Diaz said.
The budget includes the purchase of equipment, supplies, and peripherals.
He added that the fund used to establish the molecular laboratory was sourced from additional Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) share of the province from the national government.
“Out of the IRA share given to the province, P50 million was budgeted for that. That’s the budget that we’re working on to complete the bio-lab. That includes equipment, supplies, and peripheral equipment that we have yet to purchase,” he said.
The governor added that the plan to expand the TLJPH will be sourced from the provincial government's share of the Bayanihan grant of P155 million.
A total of P100 million is allotted for the expansion of the hospital, Diaz said.