The Regional Inter-Agency Task Group (RITG-XII) and the Regional Inter-Agency Task Force on CoVid-19 have pushed and approved the extension of the enhanced community quarantine until April 30 for the whole of Region XII in a bold move to stamp out coronavirus.

In a virtual meeting held on Tuesday, April 7 which was attended by regional directors of various government offices, provincial chief executives and other line agencies, the extension was considered due to the spike in CoVid -19 positive cases as monitored by the DOH. At the time of the meeting which began around 9 in the morning on Tuesday, DOH XII has recorded 10 positive cases.

Some provinces recorded zero positive cases but, according to Sarangani provincial Governor Steve Chiongbian-Solon, it is mainly due to the low testing capacity or “lack of testing kits’ and the equally longer timeframe for the release of the results.

The members of both Task Groups have considered the need to extend the ECQ based on, among other things, the trends in the CoVid-19 epidemiological curve, the capacity of the health care systems and facilities in the region, social, economic and security factors. Some members of the group especially the local chief executives were actually considering the ‘return to normalcy’ of some economic activities but relented after looking at the bigger picture in Region XII. The sudden increase of positive cases from among those who attended the Fighting Cock Derby in Davao City had also been taken into consideration.

As of 5 PM on the same date, a little about two hours after the teleconference was over, the latest figures from DOH show that there are now 13 confirmed cases in the region.

Through Resolution no.2020-006 entitled ‘A Resolution Enjoining Region XII LGUs to extend the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) until April 30, 2020”, the extension was moved by Governor Reynaldo S. Tamayo, Jr. and was seconded by Sarangani Governor Steve Chiongbian-Solon.

The RTF-XII in CoVid-19 is chaired by SK Governor Suharto T. Mangudadatu and the said TF is in-charge with the operational matters while the RITG XII, chaired by the Department of Health, is the policy-making body.

The RTF-XII on CoVid-19 and RITG XII have opted for the teleconferencing set-up in line with the social distancing guidelines and the prohibition of public gatherings.

In a statement, Dir. Leysa appreciated the use of modern technology which made long-distance meetings possible. “Despite our (travel) limitations, in adherence to the social distancing guidelines and the prohibition of group gatherings, we were able to move as one and we were able to make crucial decisions for the sake of our constituents,” Director Leysa stated.

The extended ECQ had been unanimously approved by the members of the RTF XII on CoVid -19 and RITG XII and the details of which has to be forwarded to various LGUs in the Region.