CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (PIA)—Noting the need to beef up the campaign on adopting the ‘new normal’ and other strategies of the government to combat the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID)-19, the Cabinet Officers for Regional Development and Security (CORDS)-X and Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG)-10 held the first CORDS-X COVID-19 Special podcast, May 16.
During the interview with Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Martin Andanar, DILG-10 Regional Director Agabe said as the new chair for the Regional Inter Agency Task Force (RIATF), the DILG is tasked to oversee the screening and validation committee prior to crafting policies.
“Kini nga komitiba magsala ug magsusi sa mga hangyo sa mga probinsya ug syudad- hangyo sama sa pagbawi sa deklarasyon o ipahamtang na ang Community Quarantine sa ilang lugar. Kini pagabuhaton gamit ang usa ka tool o parameter nga gi-set sa IATF,” Agabe said.
(This committee will evaluate the requests of provinces and cities such as the lifting of declaration or implementation of Community Quarantine in their area. This will be done using a tool or parameter set by the IATF)
The regional director said the RIATF now focuses on imposing the ‘new normal’ since there is still no vaccine formulated yet to cure the disease.
Thus, local government units (LGUs) are urged to craft policies and ordinances to really instill to their constituents the importance of observing social distancing, wearing of face masks and prohibiting unnecessary mass gathering in containing the spread of COVID-19.
“We will be back but it is not the new normal that we have but it is the new normal,” Agabe said.
As for the lifting of General Community Quarantine in the region, Agabe said the IATF Resolution 35-A, amending some provisions of IATF Resolution 35 was created upon hearing the concerns of the LGUs. Some of the LGUs appealed to the IATF’s decision because they are not yet ready to lift the community quarantine in their area.
In terms of youth participation in the said campaign, Suzzane Martil, Barangay Tablon Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) chair, said they provide information education campaign to the residents of the barangays including the distribution of flyers.
Such contain information about COVID-19, how it can be transmitted and prevented.
“People must check on each other, share the right information, and avoid fake news,” Martil said.
Currently, the region is placed under General Community Quarantine effective May 16. (RTP/PIA10)