The Department of the Interior and Local Government XII, through the initiative of Regional Director Josephine Cabrido-Leysa, CESO III, conducted the Online Roll-out of Response and Management Protocols for COVID-19 Pandemic on October 15, 2020 via zoom application. The activity was attended by a total of ninety three (93) participants who are all members of Local COVID-19 Task Forces. The participants were composed of some LCEs, and predominantly of LDRRMOs and LESUs.
In her Opening Message, RD Leysa recognized the role of the LGUs through their Local COVID-19 Task Forces being at the frontline in managing the pandemic. She congratulated and thanked them for their unwavering commitment and responsive efforts to contain the virus for the last eight months. However, she also challenged the participants to continue enforcing the minimum health protocols until the vaccine becomes available.
Dr. Queenie Dyan Raagas of DOH and Robin Lim of DILG-CODIX discussed the need to “hammer and dance” as the LGUs start to reopen its local economy despite the surge of cases in few areas. This “hammer and dance” is a theory presented by Tomas Pueyo on how we can fight COVID. The “hammer” refers to the implementation of lockdown to curb the outbreak while “dance” pertains to the gradual reopening of the economy while health protocols are still observed.
The resource persons underscored that LGUs must localized the implementation of ECQ among Critical Zones, based on the parameters set, to allow unaffected areas to go business as usual.
Further, Maria Theresa D. Bautista of DILG-South Cotabato gave an orientation on Public Service Continuity Plan. The LGUs, being critical players in Disaster Response, must identify strategies to ensure the immediate restoration and continuity of the delivery of essential services during disasters and other disruptive incidents. During the latter part of the meeting, Ms. Jermie Erie-Yeager, OIC Chief of LGCDD, presented the recent IATF guidelines and Joint RIATF-EID XII and RTF-COVID-19 XII Resolutions which need policy support and enforcement from the LGUs.
The activity was held as part of its mandate of the Regional Office Department being the Leader of Governance and Management of Human Remains Clusters for COVID-19, and the Chairperson of RIATF-EID XII.
