Despite the financial constraints caused by the global COVID-19 pandemic, Cagayan de Oro City Hall through its City Finance Office is finding ways to generate revenues for the city´s services and COVID-19 response programs.
“Di ta maulaw kolekta og buwis kay makita man sa katawhan asa padulong og unsa atong gihimo sa ilang kuarta. Mao na akong dagkong pasalamat sa City Finance Office kay ang buwis mao ni life blood sa City Hall aron mapundo ang atong proyekto og serbisyo sa katawhan (Let´s not be embarrassed about collecting taxes because the people see for themselves where and how we at City Hall use their taxes. That´s why I´m profusely thankful to the City Finance Office because taxes are the lifeblood of City Hall to fund the projects and services to our people),” Acting City Administrator Teddy Sabuga-a said during Monday morning´s (Aug. 24) flag raising ceremony hosted by the City Finance Office.
Sabuga-a also said City Hall´s efforts under Mayor Oscar Moreno´s administration in implementing both its COVID-19 response programs while not sacrificing its services and projects to the city didn´t go unnoticed. He said Mayor Moreno was invited to share the city´s COVID-19 response programs on last Saturday´s (Aug. 22) broadcast of Iligan Pulse, a news and media website at Facebook.
At the same time, Sabuga-a said city residents should not begrudge City Hall´s assistance in housing the arrivals of its neighboring local governments in Misamis Oriental and Iligan City because doing so is in keeping with the spirit of Republic Act 11469 or the “Bayanihan To Heal As One Act.”
“Ang tabang sa siyudad sa Cagayan de Oro sa ilang silingan sa Misamis Oriental og Iligan City mao ni ang tinuod nga tumong sa Bayanihan To Heal As One Act. Ingon ni Mayor Moreno wa tay political boundaries kay bisan maayo dagan sa ato kon ang atong silingan apektado, di madugay apektado ta (Cagayan de Oro City´s assistance to its neighbors in Misamis Oriental and Iligan City is in keeping with the true spirit of the Bayanihan To Heal As One Act. Mayor Moreno said there is no political boundaries in the pandemic because no matter how well we manage the city´s situation here, if our neighbors are affected soon we will also be affected),” Sabuga-a said.
Sabuga-a echoed Mayor Moreno´s explanation that the city government must do what it can to protect Northern Mindanao Medical Center (NMMC), the region´s designated COVID-19 referral hospital, from being overwhelmed with COVID-19 cases from the city or any part of northern Mindanao.
“Kinahanglan nato tabangan atong mga silingan. Naa fifth class municipality sa Misamis Oriental nga di natukod kaugalingong isolation units og makapalit ilang personal protective equipment (PPE) (We need to help our neighbors as much as we can. There are fifth class municipalities in Misamis Oriental that were unable to set their own isolation units or buy their own personal protective equipment),” Sabuga-a said