IC Calaguas, chief adviser of Mayor Pogi Lazatin. Contributed photo
ANGELES CITY – Worry not, the city government has the capacity to pay for the planned multimillion–peso loan for the purchase of Covid-19 vaccines.
“Huwag pong mag-alala ang mga kababayan natin sa pagbabayad ng P600–million na i-lo-loan natin para sa mga Covid-19 vaccines, dahil ang siyudad po ay mayroong net borrowing capacity na P2.9 billion,” so assured
IC Calaguas, chief adviser to Mayor Carmelo “Pogi” Lazatin in an interview Tuesday over Tira Brigada News segment of 92.7 FM, hosted by John Susi, Alvin Masangkay and Rogie Pangilinan.
Calaguas was addressing queries of Angeles residents posted in the City Information Office Facebook page on the capacity of the city government to pay the P600–million loan.
“The net borrowing capacity of Angeles City is P2.9 billion as certified by the Bureau of Local Government Finance. Ang ibig pong sabihin, hindi po kailangang magtaas ang siyudad ng pagsisingil sa mga taxes. Kayang-kaya po nating magbayad base sa estado po ng ating finances,” Calaguas explained.
In fact, Calaguas said, the requirements for the loan are ready to be submitted to the financial institutions Wednesday, Jan. 27.
The city council is also set to issue the “Authority to Loan” of Mayor Lazatin in its regular session on Tuesday afternoon.
In a statement over the weekend, Lazatin said the city government is just putting to good use the city’s net borrowing capacity.
Calaguas, Lazatin’s long-time most trusted political officer and currently Clark International Airport Corp. vice president for operations, was tapped by the mayorto represent him in initial talks with identified financial institutions and pharma companies to secure the funding for the vaccines against Covid-19. Some 411,634 residents are expected to be inoculated in the city.
“Simpleng simple lang po ang mindset at direction ni Mayor Pogi Lazatin, tiyakin na may perang pambili at may mabibiling vaccine. Kahit ano pang ilatag na plano ng pamahalaang national, handa ang lokal na pamahalaan ng Angeles,” Calaguas said.
Basic services ensured
Although Lazatin is seeking for the said loan, Calaguas assured the public that the basic services of the city government will not suffer.
“Hindi po mag-sa-suffer ang mga basic services natin. Tuloy-tuloy po ang daloy ng serbisyo sa 33 barangays ng siyudad,” she said. “Ayon nga po kay Mayor Pogi, kung mayroon man pong isang tinuro itong pandemya – yun ay yung pahalagahan po natin ang kalusugan natin.”
Survey
Calaguas also revealed that since August 2020, some 20 survey teams have been conducting household surveys to identify the number and age of people per household.
Currently, 25 barangays had been visited by the survey team composed of staff of the Gender and Development Office, Angeles City Tourism Office and Youth and Sports.
The survey, she explained, is in preparation for the vaccine roll out for all residents.
“Matagal ng may preparation ang ating siyudad. Matagal na itong pinaghandaan ni Mayor Pogi Lazatin. In the few days, our survey team will be visiting different subdivisions as well and eight more barangays,” she added.
Vax acceptance
Calaguas also shared that one of the main concerns seen by Lazatin is the acceptability of the Covid-19 vaccines.
This is why the city will strengthen the information dissemination, Calaguas reiterated.
“Importante rin po na may direktiba. Naghihintay lang din po tayo ng guidelines mula sa national government. Kapag po sinabi kasi nila na roll-out, lahat po kailangang magpabakuna susunod po ang ating mayor,” she said.
In a related development, Lazatin has directed city health officer Dr. Verona Gueverra and Rafael Lazatin Memorial Medical Center cirector Froilan Canlas to draft initial guidelines for the inoculation.
“This interim guidelines will be adjusted based on the national guidelines. And all other concerns will also be considered like age, health issues of the people before vaccination, schedule of vaccine, order of priority since we heard the vaccine will be delivered in tranches, among others,” Calaguas said.
