OVER 500 confirmed coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) patients in Catbalogan City, Samar will receive financial assistance from the central government.
The distribution of financial aid worth PHP5,000 to each patient has started on Sept. 23, prioritizing those who have already recovered from Covid-19 infection.
“The PHP5, 000 cash assistance is unexpected because the assistance that we asked from the Office of the President, through Sen. Senator Christopher Lawrence Go, are facilities and food packs in case the number of confirmed cases continue to increase,” Mayor Dexter Uy said in a statement on Thursday.
Last week, the city government submitted a list of those who turned positive for Covid-19 to Go’s office.
“We did not expect it. They only asked for the list of people infected with Covid-19 and they provided PHP5,000 worth of assistance to each one,” he added.
As of Sept. 23, Catbalogan has 610 confirmed Covid-19 cases, including 476 recoveries and three deaths.
Uy said he will try to seek additional funds for those infected whose names are not included in the submitted list.
Aside from the cash aid, he added the city also received additional funds from the national government for the construction of a 64-bed capacity isolation building.
A PHP26-million fund for the purpose will be downloaded to the Department of Public Works and Highways, the implementer of the project. The additional isolation facility is in preparation for the possible surge of Covid-19 patients.
The Department of Health in Eastern Visayas identified Catbalogan as one of the areas in the region with existing local transmission.
Four villages in the city were placed under localized lockdown after being identified as critical zones. (By Roel Amazona)
No comments:
Post a Comment