CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (PIA)–In responding to coronavirus disease (COVID)-19 health and economic threats, the Northern Mindanao COVID-19 Task Force beefs up its strategies on social welfare, governance, and economic plans.
As of April 2, the Department of Health Center for Health Development in Northern Mindanao (DOHCHD-NM)reported that there are 321 PUIs recorded in the region of which 49 are currently admitted, 40 were tested negative and were discharged, 59 are on home quarantine, and 165 have completed the home quarantine. There are also 5 positive COVID-19 cases in the region and 10 captured non-Region 10 cases.
In addressing such, DOHCHD-NM Regional Director Dr. Adriano Suba-an said they are currently working on the documentary requirements to establish a testing laboratory in the region as well as they are tapping private laboratories who can provide the equipment needed to facilitate the tests needed.
There are also 131 facilities in the region which can be converted as isolation units that can handle persons under investigation (PUIs) with mild to moderate symptoms. Such can accommodate 783 cases.
Enforcing Bayanihan Act
As part of the implementation of the Republic Act 11469 or the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act, the Department of Agriculture (DA)-10 continues the distribution of vegetable seeds (300 packets), amounting to P52,000 to the Provincial Agriculture Office of Misamis Oriental. They also aid the Miarayon Highland Farmers Association (MHFA) of Talakag, Bukidnon and the Imbayao Community-based Participatory Research (CPAR) of Malaybalay City, Bukidnon by providing 27-ton granola variety of potato seeds, in the towns of Miarayon in Talakag and Imbayao, Malaybalay City of Bukidnon, respectively.
In terms of providing the Social Amelioration Package, Charmaine Tadlas of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)-10 said there is a need for a memorandum of agreement signing between the local government units (LGUs) and DSWD to cite the different roles of the former especially the LCEs.
Further, the P6,000 assistance to individuals in crisis situations (AICS) will be given outright to the beneficiaries through the LGUs once the MOA is signed. The barangay LGUs will be the ones to distribute such to their constituents.
Fostering discipline in governance
Noting that some local government units implement clustering of people in going to the markets, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Regional Director Arnel Agabe said such is part of the strategy to avoid mass gathering and maintain social distancing. However, if the said order will hinder their constituents in purchasing their essential needs or if there is negative feedback on the implementation, DILG will call the attention of the concerned LGU.
He also reminded the public that discipline must come from one’s self and the orders coming from the LGUs only seek to contain the spread of the virus.
As for the speedy response to medical cases, Agabe said medical personnel should not be repressed in checkpoints especially if the latter need to report to their respective LGUS on COVID-19 related cases.
Food adequacy and economic activities
During the NorMin COVID-19 Task Force Virtual Press Conference, April 3, National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA)-10 Regional Director Mylah Faye Cariño said the region has more than adequate supply of food. From the reports of the Manila International Container Terminal (MICT), there were two vessels from Vietnam which delivered 4,000 metric tons of rice on March 31 and 1,350 metric tons on April 1. There is also a daily shipment of food, vegetables and meat products throughout Mindanao.
Among the products in the region shipped regularly include pineapple, mango, banana, processed meat, calamansi, camote, sayote, Chinese pechay, durian, jackfruit, lanzones, papaya, squash, potato. Del Monte and Nestle are able to transport raw materials for processing and Gama Farm exports chicken products to the Middle East.
Price control, anti-hoarding and anti-profiteering are also monitored in the region through the Department of Trade and Industry. (RTP/PIA10)
