At least P1 million in aid money released to each of Cebu City’s 80 barangays

Since Monday, July 13, the Cebu City Government has released at least P1 million in financial help to each of its 80 barangays to aid residents affected by the pandemic.

In a press briefing on Monday, Rey Gealon, Mayor Edgardo Labella’s spokesperson said in Cebuano, “The financial assistance will be used to purchase food, medicine, vitamins, PPEs, and masks so long as they have anything to do with our fight against COVID-19.” 

“We have started distributing the aforementioned aid that will be used by our barangay captains and councilors in purchasing the necessities of their residents,” he added.

Gealon said the aid is on top of an initial round of monetary support, around 300,000 sacks of rice, and personal protective equipment extended by the City Government to barangays.

Earlier in June, Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu ordered a total lockdown of about 12 Cebu City barangays that were believed to be COVID-19 hotspots.

Said barangays recorded the highest number of coronavirus infections in the city, according to the national COVID-19 Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF).

At around 2 pm on Tuesday, July 14, the Cebu City Public Information Office posted a press release on the recent distributions of the P1 million monetary aid.

“Cebu City Mayor Edgardo Labella directed the immediate release of the monetary aid to help barangays fund the needs of their constituents.”, they said.

The city’s top 10 most populated barangays received P3 million each. 

These include barangays Guadalupe, Mabolo, Mambaling, Lahug, Tisa, Basak San Nicolas, Lahug, Labangon, Inayawan, Bulacao, and Quiot.

The next 10 most populated barangays received P2 million each. 

These include barangays Apas, Kamputhaw, Basak Pardo, Cogon Pardo, Kalunasan, Punta Princessa, Kalubihan, Barrio Luz, Kinasang-an and Duljo Fatima.

The rest of Cebu City’s barangays received P1 million each.

The Cebu City Public Information Office added the city government sourced the monetary support from its 2020 annual budget.

As of July 13, DOH recorded a total of 6,588 active cases. Among the total count, 91.2% (6,005) were found to be asymptomatic.

The Philippines currently has more than 57,000 confirmed coronavirus cases. – Rappler.com