The City Council, during last Monday’s regular session, approved on first reading a proposed ordinance granting cash assistance in the amount of P25,000 to local government officials and employees who contracted or have tested positive of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) while in the performance of their official functions.
The council stated that for the purpose of proper documentation, the City Health Services Office shall prepare the case study of each positively infected official or employee irrespective of whether mild or otherwise, as the basis for the immediate release of the provided cash assistance.
The council added that the fund requirement for the cash assistance to the COVID-infected officials and employees shall come from any amount available from the P150 million COVID-19 operations fund earlier allocated pursuant to the provisions of Ordinance No. 39, series of 2020.
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According to the city councilors, the personnel policies, plans, procedures and systems handbook of the city government provided the granting of other applicable benefits and incentives to officials and employees of the city as may be allowed.
The council disclosed that the wrath of the COVID-19 global pandemic has already affected a number of frontliners not only from certain government agencies but also from the different offices of the city government who were assigned to perform various essential tasks as part of the city’s intensified efforts to contain and stop the spread of the deadly virus in the city.
The aldermen stipulated the cash assistance is an additional benefit for the officials and employees who contracted the virus while discharging their duties and responsibilities as part of the city’s efforts in containing the virus in the city as local transmission has already been noted in clustered areas in certain city barangays over the past several weeks.
Earlier, the city legislative body passed Ordinance No. 39, series of 2020, that reverted to the general fund the amount of P150 million from savings and appropriating the same amount for measures and programs of the city to deal with the COVID crisis in the city.
However, the city was constrained to allocate some P100 million from the aforesaid amount to be used as its stimulus package for micro and small businesses through the Baguio Revitalization Actions for a Vibrant Economy–Economic Stimulus Package (BRAVE-ESP).
The council required the city’s Local Finance Committee to issue the appropriate certificate of availability of funds for the said amount before the passage of the proposed measure on second and third readings as part of the earlier allocated funds had already been utilized for the city’s ongoing COVID operations.
The proposed ordinance was referred to the City Council Committee on Ethics, Governmental Affairs and Personnel for study and recommendation while awaiting for the issuance of the required certificate of availability of funds before the same will be calendared for second and third readings.
By Dexter A. See
Photo by Armando M. Bolislis
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