IMPASUGONG, Bukidnon (PIA)—To present and explain the government’s nationwide behaviour change campaign dubbed “BIDA Solusyon” to combat COVID-19, Philippine Information Agency (PIA) Director-General Ramon L. Cualoping III brought the “Explain, Explain, Explain” drive in his recent visit here.
The BIDA Team, led by Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Martin Andanar, conducted the event in time that the municipality of Impasugong celebrated its Indigenous Peoples Day.
In a ceremony at the town’s dome, Cualoping emphasized that the government should extensively explain what the government has done, what it is doing, and what it is going to do to uplift people’s welfare and address the challenges faced by the nation.
“Based on the directive of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, the national government should be brought right into our doorsteps so we can also give you all the initiatives and programs of the Duterte administration,” Cualoping stressed.
He added that the government’s #ExplainExplainExplain approach should be widened at the barangay level and urge community leaders to outspread President Duterte’s core messages.
BIDA Solusyon is a social and behavior change campaign that encourages the practice of regular handwashing and facemask-wearing to lower the chances of coronavirus spread.
Together with Dr. Beverly Lorraine Ho, Health Promotion and Communication Service chief of the Department of Health, Assistant Secretary Rhea Peñaflor of the Department of Social Welfare and Development, and Impasugong town mayor Anthony Uy, the PCOO chief explained that B-I-D-A stands for B-Bawal walang mask (not wearing mask is prohibited); I-Isanitize ang mga kamay, iwas-hawak sa mga bagay (sanitize your hands and avoid touching things); D-Dumistansya ng isang metro (practice social distancing and always stand one meter away); and A-Alamin ang totoong impormasyon (Get your news only from reliable sources).
Mayor Anthony Uy, meanwhile, announced that the town has just been declared COVID-free because those who were infected had recovered from the dreaded disease.
“We have been battling COVID-19 for almost eight months. We only had five COVID cases when we started receiving LSIs and ROFs, and we thanked DSWD for the never-ending support, especially during those times. Now, Impasugong town is COVID-free,” the mayor said.
Acknowledging mayor Uy’s gratitude, DSWD Assistant Secretary Rhea Peñaflor announced that the Department will soon resume its validation phase for the third-round of assessment of “Listahanan” to make sure that those unregistered poor households will be included in DSWD’s list of qualified beneficiaries for its different social protection programs and services.
Dr. Beverly Lorraine Ho also explained on the same occasion that 26 October is the DOH’s launching of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination to protect against cancers caused by HPV and prevent the HPV types that cause most cervical cancers. She added that the health workers who will be administering the vaccination have all the complete personal protective equipment (PPEs) to prevent COVID-19 transmission.
With this, Cualoping said the government is intensifying its #ExplainExplainExplain task of providing Filipinos with facts, information, and updates on what the government has been doing to the people through different government initiatives to establish the right conditions for prosperity. (RLRB/PIA Bukidnon)
