Sipalay City Marks 19Th Year Amid COVID-19 Pandemic with Key Stakeholders
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PEP The Mindanao Daily Mirror SUNDAY, APRIL 5, 2020 13 BACOLOD CITY – In the past years, the City of Sipalay in Negros Occidental would mark the end of March with big events to mark its anniversary as a chartered city. This year, the Sipalaynons led by Mayor Maria Gina Lizares instead had a subdued celebration. Local government employees and volunteers held a simple fellowship during the city’s 19th Charter Anniversary on Tuesday amid a flurry of response to contain the spread of COVID-19. “Since we have canceled the usual festivities for our charter anniversary, the city government has been focusing on being proactive and innovative in the operations of the inter-agency task force (IATF),” Lizares said in a statement on Thursday. A tourism hub in Western Visayas, the southern Negros city is famous for its white-sand beaches and crystal-clear waters, which attract both foreign and local tourists seeking a tranquil getaway. Amid the COVID-19 threat, Lizares canceled all big events and mass gatherings in March and April, including the 8th Burangoy Tourism Kite Festival and the 1st Philippines National Kite Festival and Congress. The city government, with the Bureau of Immigration and other concerned agencies, assisted stranded foreign and domestic tourists in returning to their respective countries and hometowns. On March 21, Sipalay enforced the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ), which was later reinforced by Executive Order 20-20 issued by Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson, placing the entire province under ECQ from March 30 to April 14. Lizares said the IATF has identified protocols for each aspect of the COVID-19 operations aside from conducting frequent updating and strategy meetings Sipalay City marks 19th year amid COVID-19 pandemic with key stakeholders. Health checkpoints have been set up while frontliners directly dealing with patients under investigation (PUIs) and persons under monitoring (PUMs) were given flu and pneumonia shots. “We also provide allowance and meals to frontiners on duty. We need to take good care of them as they are our first line of defense against the spread of COVID-19,” Lizares said. In Sipalay, the City Health Office (CHO) uses hospital bands that contain the details of a PUM or a PUI for strict monitoring. Only the CHO personnel can remove the bands upon validated completion of quarantine monitoring. The city government has also tapped sewers and tailors to make face masks and personal protective equipment for frontliners and volunteers. On Wednesday, the City Social Welfare and Development started distributing food packs to 14,510 vulnerable households. As of Thursday, the Sipalay CHO has recorded two FACE MASK PRODUCTION. Mayor Maria Gina Lizares of Sipalay City, Negros Occidental tries on a face mask made in Barangay PUIs and 599 PUMs under close monitoring. A total of Canturay during her visit to the village on Tuesday (March 31, 2020). The city government has initiated a livelihood for sewers and tailors 636 PUMs have already completed the 14-day required affected by the enhanced community quarantine by tapping them to make masks and other personal protective equipment for front-liners self-quarantine. PNA in the fight against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). LGU OF SIPALAY CITY Bus company, a helping hand in the midst of COVID-19 threat MR Clemacor bus company “Everyone’s cooperation very useful. It may not be routes in the city. The buses lends its buses to the City is needed during these trying as convenient as before the will be from barangays San Government of Catbalogan times. More than the profit, quarantine was imposed but it Andres, Silanga, Bunuanan, to be used as Point to Point we are most interested in how helps a lot especially if you are Lagundi, and San Vicente to (P2P) Transportation during we can help the government from a far-flung barangay.” which the end points will be at the enhanced community in their endeavours to contain On the other hand, the Catbalogan Bus Terminal. quarantine period. the spread of COVID-19,” he Ceasar Tibar, a traffic enforcer From the barangays, the The company that is added. assigned at the bus terminal buses will leave daily at 8 a.m., based in Catbalogan City lent While the buses are rent said, “Had I been given the 9 a.m., 11 a.m., 1 p.m, 2 p.m. eight buses to the city as a free, the LGU will be the one chance to stay home, I would and 4 p.m.. helping hand in the LGU’s to provide gasoline as its but duty calls.” On the other hand, the fight against COVID-19. counterpart. P2P bus from Catbalogan City Terminal going to Brgy. San Andres. “Here in Catbalogan trips from terminal to the Roderick Abaratigue, Abaratigue also said that PIA-SAMAR private vehicles are not barangays will leave at 10 Officer-in-Charge for the management requested allowed to be used except if a.m., 11 a.m., 1 p.m., 3 p.m., 4 Operations, of MR Clemacor the city to ensure the drivers’ Dexter Uy said. understand why they imposed you are a frontliner. Everyone p.m. and 6 p.m. said, “The city originally safety. We will also observe the Enhanced community has to walk. But we have The P2P buses will wanted to rent the buses to As such, Personal social distancing inside the Quarantine. If we are still remote barangays with the continue to operate all be used as P2P transportation. Protective Equipment (PPEs) bus to further protect the allowed to go out using P2P transportation, this throughout the duration of However, even before the are provided to the drivers. public,” he added. our own vehicles, it will be lessens the distance that they the Enhanced Community city approached us, we have “The buses will be Meanwhile, Roxanne convenient for anyone to stay have to walk through. I believe Quarantine period unless the foreseen and decided that disinfected after every trip to Aboga, a mother of two and outside. I think it defeats the that this is really useful,” buses need some repairs due should there be a need for protect those who are going to lives in one of the largest purpose of the quarantine.” Tibar said. to regular wear and tear of the buses we will gladly lend it.” ride the next trip,” City Mayor barangays of the city said, “I “Actually, the buses are For now, there are five vehicles. nbq/GMT/PIA8.