(UPDATED) BROOKE’S POINT, Palawan — Approximately P33 million-worth of medical supplies and food assistance were purchased and distributed by the municipal government here to barangay quarantine and isolation facilities to step up response to the COVID-19 crisis.
Mayor Mary Jean Feliciano said of the amount, over P9 million went to purchasing the medical supplies, P24 million to food assistance — rice and other relief goods, and other related expenses.
“Yong P9 million napunta sa medical supplies at yong iba napunta sa bigas at other expenses para sa apektado ng COVID-19,” Feliciano said.
Under approved Resolution No. 2020-02, the additional internal revenue allotment (IRA) from the national government will be spent for the procurement of personal protective equipment (PPE), equipment and reagents, medical supplies such as medicine and vitamins, hospital equipment and supplies, disinfectants, food assistance and relief goods for crisis-affected households.
Dr. Lovelyn Sotoza, municipal health officer, said the amount spent to purchase the vitamins, medicine supplies, PPE sets, testing kits, and others was from the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act grant to the local government unit (LGU).
She said the supplies, which arrived on June 20, are already being distributed to the barangays that have temporary treatment and monitoring facilities (TTMFs) for the coronavirus disease.
“Vitamins para sa bawat pamilya, PPE sa mga frontliners, tulong na gamot at gamit para sa ospital, equipment para sa quarantine area ng mga barangay, karagdagang quarantine at isolation facilities, at karagdagang testing kits para sa mga darating na locally stranded individuals (LSIs) at returning overseas Filipinos (ROFs) ang mga items na dumating,” Sotoza said.
The purchases also include additional hospital beds that will be placed in quarantine facilities, she said.
Dan Esmerio, chief of the Brooke’s Point Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO), said their 18 barangays all have quarantine facilities. However, only three are being used for the returnees so far.
“Originally evacuation natin na kayang mag-house ng 30 to 40 heads, plus yong isang hiniram na rin natin na kayang maglaman ng 20 heads,” Esmerio said.
“Bagama’t mayroon quarantine facilities bawat barangay ay hindi na muna ginamit dahil ayon nga kay Dr. Sotoza dalawang beses ang pagbisita ng mga nakatalagang nurses at doctors. Malayo para sa kanila kung sa barangay pa i-quarantine ang mga LSIs,” he added.
