THE Mandaue City Budget Officer is considering to propose passing the second supplemental budget for 2021 to support the Covid-19 response expenses of the city in the advent of a surge in cases.
Lawyer Giovanni Tianero, head of the Mandaue City Budget Office, said they are preparing for another budget to be used for the Covid-19 efforts in the city considering that the Covid-19 situation is unpredictable.
In January, the city council passed the P200 million first supplemental budget to be used for the vaccination program, especially for the procurement of Covid-19 vaccines and other Covid-19 related expenses.
Since the national government had promised to procure vaccines against Covid-19, the City need not procure its own vaccines. It can instead use the budget for other vaccination program expenses and Covid-19-related expenses.
In an interview, Tianero said the budget of the city has been depleted due to the increase in Covid-19 cases, as well as the increase in the expenses in the Covid-19 facilities and the hiring of additional medical personnel.
He said they have consumed approximately half of the first supplemental budget.
Despite this, Tianero said the budget office will never say “no” and will do whatever it can to financially support the fight of the city against the pandemic.
He said they will still look into the funds and savings from the previous years that they could use.
Tianero said they may realign some of the budget such as the peace and order budget and the budget allocation for seminars and trainings.
“We will be considering the peace and order funds because as far as I know, it is also allowed to be used for the Covid response expenses,” said Tianero.
He also instructed the budget office staff to review the city’s budget allocation, particularly on the seminars and trainings.
He said he will recommend this allocation for realignment to Covid-19 response.
Tianero has yet to give the exact amount that they will propose for the supplemental budget as it depends on the funding they can get.
Meanwhile, Tianero announced that the Mandaue City Hospital is hiring 10 nurses and six nurse attendants to augment its medical workforce.
Last week, Mandaue City Hospital chief Dr. Jake Ian Seno admitted that they need more medical personnel.
Tianero said the hired applicants will be granted contractual employment with a basic salary of P30,00 for nurses and P14,000 for nurse attendants.
He said although they prefer registered nurses, those who are not fully registered are still welcome.
The applicants may visit the official Facebook page of the Mandaue City Public Information Office for additional details. (KFD)