THE Western Provincial Disaster Committee (PDC) has cleared the air surrounding the use of the $90,000 grant provided by the National Disaster Management Office (NDMO) to deal with the current COVID-19 outbreak in the province early this year.
The fund was to help support PDC to offer better response to the COVID-19 outbreak in the province.
Since the release of the grant members of the general public have queried how the fund was spent.
In response, PDC Jeffrey Wickham said the $90,000 was already used to meet the cost of administration, logistics, fuel and food delivery to the designated emergency areas.
“The fund was spent on the basic essential items for the emergency needs during this current pandemic period.
“This fund was able to meet logistics and fuel used by police and medical team to move around within the five emergency zones in the province,” he said.
Mr Wickham who is also the Western Provincial Secretary (PS) added the money was not packaged for any allowances.
He said not even a single cent was allocated for allowances.
“Just to let the public know that the money was already retired and a report was already being done and already sent to Honiara,” he explained.
He further added that at the moment the committee is waiting for further assistance in preparation for the second wave that currently hit Honiara and Guadalcanal Province.
Meanwhile, the PDC and the Provincial Health Emergency Operations Centre (PHECO) will meet today to consult on the response and preparedness for the province.
By ULUTAH GINA
Gizo News Bureau
