Mayor Evelio Leonardia recently held a meeting with other city officials to discuss the city’s compliance with the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) memorandum requiring LGUs to rationalize the establishment of task forces against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
But prior to the meeting, held at the Bacolod City Government Center, Leonardia had already issued Executive Order No. 26-A on April 25 creating the Task Force Against COVID-19, in compliance with the said DILG memorandum.
In the meeting, DILG-Bacolod City Director Ma. Joy Maredith Madayag gave an overview of Memorandum Circular No. 2020-077, which was issued to all LGUs to fully establish and activate their respective Local Task Force Against COVID-19 and align all their actions with the national government framework.
She said LGUs around the country shall facilitate the establishment of local emergency operations center so that the DILG can better monitor and analyze data from these sectors.
This will also help better address concerns from residents in a locality, she added.
Also present in the meeting were Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran, chair of the Inter-Agency Task Force Against COVID-19; Councilor Cindy Rojas, chair of the Action Team on Non-OFW Returning Residents; Councilor Renecito Novero, chair of the Quarantine Centers Action Team; Councilor Ana Marie Palermo, Councilor Lady Gles Pallen, City Administrator Em Ang, Secretary to the Mayor Atty. Edward Joseph Cuansing, Executive Assistant Jose Ma. Vargas; City Planning and Development Office head Mary Jean Ramos, other City Hall department and office heads, BCPO City Director Col. Henry Biñas; and BFP City Fire Marshal Chief Inspector Publio Ploteña.
The LGU task force shall be composed of the local chief executive as head, with members from DILG (CLGOO), PNP, BFP, CDRRMO, CHO, BHW, BHERT, BPSO, and CESU.
The task force shall also create teams, such as the Contract Tracing Team, Diagnostics and Testing Team, Patient Management and Monitoring Team, and Logistics and Resources Support Team.
Before the memorandum was issued and since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Bacolod City has already established its own local emergency operations center, which operates 24/7 to immediately respond to concerns of Bacolodnons.
Different teams, organizations and agencies have also been in close coordination with the city government in addressing such concerns.
Meanwhile, Mayor Leonardia is joining the special online meeting of Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines (ULAP) to discuss and share response initiatives on how to combat the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
The online meeting, which will be held today [May 5] from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m., will be attended by the officers of the expanded National Executive Board (NEB).
Leonardia, who is the interim executive vice president of ULAP, will speak at the open forum representing the League of Cities of the Philippines (LCP).
As national president of LCP, Leonardia will update ULAP of the league’s response initiatives and interventions in relation to the COVID-19 situation.
ULAP is the umbrella organization of all leagues of LGUs, such as the LCP, League of Provinces of the Philippines (LPP), and League of the Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP).
Also joining the meeting are other interim officers of the NEB, including Quirino Governor Dakila Carlos Cua – president, Marinduque Governor Presbitero Velasco Jr. – chairman, Laguna Vice Governor Katherine Agapay – vice chairman, Davao City Councilor Danilo Dayanghirang – secretary general, Ilocos Sur Mayor Luis “Chavit” Singson – 1st vice president for Luzon.
National Task Force COVID-19 chief implementer Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. will do a presentation on “The Role of LGUs in Advancing the NAP (National Action Plans) vs. COVID-19.”
Galvez will also give a briefing and answer questions about the current modified quarantine strategy.*/CITY PIO