Tupas wants Iloilo declared under 'imminent health hazard'
Seeks P1.3M fund for anti-A(H1N1) gears
Planned purchase of some P1.3 million in protective medical gears has now prompted Iloilo Governor Niel Tupas Sr. to seek the declaration of Iloilo as under “presence of an imminent public health hazard.”
Citing 22 cases in Western Visayas of the Influenza A(H1N1), the governor’s request tops the provincial matters up for discussion in today’s regular session of the 9th Iloilo Sanggunian Panlalawigan (SP).
“It is apparent that the pandemic is not slowing down and there is a need to adopt measures to enhance the preparedness of our health professionals to handle the “swine flu” in case it continues to spread in Iloilo,” Tupas wrote the SP body.
As such, Tupas insisted, there is a need to procure Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) that includes “particulate respirator (N95), eye protection, gown and sterile gloves.”
“This supply of PPEs, if not utilized completely for this current public health hazard, can be kept in stock just in case other epidemics such as SARS and Avian Flu recur,” the governor continued.
Problem though is that such PPE procurement is not covered by any appropriations. Tupas, to resolve the matter, resorted to the declaration of Iloilo as under “presence of an imminent public health hazard.”
The governor in pushing for said recourse justified his move citing a joint circular of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) and the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG).
To note, Section 2 of DBM-DILG Circular No. 2003-02 states that calamity fund may be used in any disaster preparedness activities. Yet an SP declaration of “imminent danger” must be made first.
“This will enable us to source the funds for this procurement from the 5% Calamity Fund of the Province of Iloilo. It is earnestly requested that this request be given favorable action so that we can adequately protect our own hospital doctors, nurses and non-medical personnel who might come into direct contact with suspected or confirmed cases of Influenza A(H1N1) virus as well as other dangerous and highly communicable diseases that might spread in the future,” Tupas ended.