La Trinidad utilizes P81-M for Covid response

OVER P81 million was utilized for Covid-19 related programs, projects and activities (PPAs) in La Trinidad, Benguet to hurdle the effects of the pandemic.

The fund came from the supplemental budget of the local government unit's (LGU) Quick Response Fund, the Bayanihan Fund from the national government and Realigned budget from the different departments of the LGU to fund Covid-19 PPAs.

The breakdown shows P15.3 million for relief goods, medical and laboratory supplies, hazard pay, maintenance, and operative expense; P23.9 million for additional relief goods, purchase of personal protective equipment (PPE), procurement of seedlings, food, and transportation; P10 million for additional hazard pay, livelihood assistance, honoraria for front liners and barangay frontline workers, infection control cubicles, handheld radios; P3 million for rentals of quarantine facility, supplies for the operation center and container van and P28.83 million for food supply and maintenance of isolation or quarantine facilities and to fund programs in view of the battle against the Covid-19 pandemic.

Mayor Romeo Salda said the town has been coping with the global health crisis, through the slow opening of business establishments and abide by the minim health protocols.

The tourism sector alone had been identified as one of the hard-hit sectors in the town with an estimated P100 million losses due to Covid-19 that includes lost income of cut flower growers and strawberry farmers.

Fely Ticbaen, municipal agriculturist, said 20 percent of the 825 strawberry growers opted to conduct online selling while some diverted to planting cash crops that can be harvested within 48 days.

Affected cut flower growers have shifted to vegetable farming and selling succulents during the community quarantine.

The Municipal Council, on the other hand, approved ordinances for the minimum health standards in the town.

Lawmakers approved laws on the mandatory usage of facemask, cellophane barrier and markers to properly observed social distancing per establishment or offices, handwash area, sanitizer per establishment, regular disinfection, liquor ban, mandatory 14-day quarantine of incoming individuals especially those from high-risk areas, among others.

Vice Mayor Roderick Awingan said councilors in the town have been assigned to various committees set to address concerns related to the pandemic.

The Municipal Council formed a team to monitor every business establishment on compliance with minimum health protocols and Covid-19 ordinances.

As of August 25, there are 115 Covid-19 cases in the municipality with 57 percent recoveries and 58 active cases.

Majority of the confirmed Covid-19 cases in the town involves local travelers with 65 percent, 24 percent involve frontliners, seven percent repatriates, and four percent direct contacts, while 7,200 persons undergone RT-PCR testing.

Frontliners in the town also attended training and lectures on contact tracing shared by Baguio City.

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