MANILA -- Provincial governments should also receive financial aid from the Duterte administration during the COVID-19 crisis, Sen. Christopher “Bong” Go said Thursday.

The additional funding would enable provincial governments to better respond to the needs of their constituents, the lawmaker said. The government earlier said it would release financial aid to cities and municipalities, totaling P30.824 billion.

Half of the provinces' internal revenue allotment would be enough to meet the needs of their residents during the health crisis, the senator said.

“Marami sa mga patients natin ay sa provincial hospitals po unang dinadala. It is the PLGUs that pay for the operations of these hospitals,” Go said.

(Many of our patients are brought to provincial hospitals. It is the provincial local government units that pay for the operations of these hospitals.)

The senator said Quirino Gov. Dakila Cua, together with members of the Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines, also sent a letter sharing his appeal.

As of Wednesday, the Philippines has a total of 3,870 COVID-19 cases including 182 deaths, and 96 recoveries.