BACOLOD City – The Business Permits and Licensing Committee of this city inspected the health protocols being carried out by business process outsourcing (BPO) companies to stem the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran, head of the city Inter-Agency Task Force against COVID-19, said the inspection aims to ensure that establishments are compliant with health protocols issued by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). According to Familiaran, among the health measures inspected were the firms’ sanitation, ventilation and exhaust system. “This is to avoid any potential workplace hazard that could increase risks of COVID-19 transmission,” explained. In a related development, Mayor Evelio Leonardia asked the National Task Force (NTF) Against COVID-19 to deploy more nurses to hospitals here to reduce local cases. City Administrator Em Ang, who was tasked by the mayor to formalize the request through a letter, said Bacolod is requesting 288 more nurses. Ang, who also sits as executive director of the Emergency Operations Center, said chances are high that the mayor’s request for augmentation of nursing personnel will be granted since Major General Melquiades Feliciano, the deputy implementer of the COVID-19 Inter-Agency Task Force-Visayas, committed to endorsing the request. As of Thursday, Bacolod recorded 2,936 confirmed COVID-19 cases, including 1,548 active cases, 1,352 recoveries, and 36 deaths./PN
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BACOLOD City – This city’s Task Force Disiplina (TFD) temporarily stopped enforcing the “face mask and social distancing ordinance.” Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran, TFD head, said they opted to halt operations pending the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction test result for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) of one of their member who recently died. “We will resume operation if his test result would turn out negative,” Familiaran stressed, adding the other TFD members were advised to self-isolate. The 60-year-old task force member was a job order employee of the city government. He was found dead inside the bathroom of his house in Barangay Taculing on Aug. 16, according to TFD action officer Wilfredo Geolingo. The task force personnel’s body was immediately swabbed for COVID-19, he added. TFD was made after Mayor Evelio Leonardia issued his Executive Order (EO) No. 47 creating the Quarantine and Health Protocol Compliance Council. The TFD was composed of personnel from the Bacolod City Police Office, City Mayor’s Office, City Administrator’s Office, and Public Order and Safety Office. The task force was tasked to ensure the compliance of residents and establishments with all existing laws, issuances and ordinances related to the established health protocols against COVID-19. There were around 60 members divided into two teams, said Geolingo./PN BACOLOD City – Home quarantine will no longer be allowed for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) positive patients in this city. “All positive cases, whether asymptomatic or mild, should be placed in isolation facilities,” Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran, who chairs the City Inter-Agency Task Force against COVID-19, reiterated. According to Familiaran, local authorities can’t be assured if those patients are really observing the proper protocols of home quarantine. He said Mayor Evelio Leonardia is set to issue an executive order for this in the coming days. Familiaran added the local government also intends to transfer all close contacts of an infected patient spending quarantine in their homes to isolation facilities in the city. He, however, did not divulge the total number of COVID-19 patients and close contacts undergoing home quarantine. Citing the risk of spreading the novel coronavirus inside the same household, the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) recently discouraged home quarantine for mild COVID-19 patients. Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles, also the co-chair of IATF-EID, said the dangerous thing about home quarantine is that COVID-19 is contagious. There will be a greater chance that a patient may infect other members of the family, he added. The Department of Health allows patients deemed asymptomatic or with mild symptoms to quarantine at home, provided that they have their own room and bath and are monitored by barangay health workers./PN BACOLOD City – Home quarantine will no longer be allowed for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) positive patients in this city. “All positive cases, whether asymptomatic or mild, should be placed in isolation facilities,” Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran, who chairs the City Inter-Agency Task Force against COVID-19, reiterated. According to Familiaran, local authorities can’t be assured if those patients are really observing the proper protocols of home quarantine. He said Mayor Evelio Leonardia is set to issue an executive order for this in the coming days. Familiaran added the local government also intends to transfer all close contacts of an infected patient spending quarantine in their homes to isolation facilities in the city. He, however, did not divulge the total number of COVID-19 patients and close contacts undergoing home quarantine. Citing the risk of spreading the novel coronavirus inside the same household, the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) recently discouraged home quarantine for mild COVID-19 patients. Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles, also the co-chair of IATF-EID, said the dangerous thing about home quarantine is that COVID-19 is contagious. There will be a greater chance that a patient may infect other members of the family, he added. The Department of Health allows patients deemed asymptomatic or with mild symptoms to quarantine at home, provided that they have their own room and bath and are monitored by barangay health workers./PN BACOLOD City – The local government unit here would no longer allow home quarantine for locally stranded individuals (LSIs) from other provinces and cities. Mayor Evelio Leonardia is set to issue an executive order transferring all LSIs undergoing the mandatory 14-day home quarantine to the city’s isolation facility, according to Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran, head of the City Inter Agency Task Force against Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). This move came after the task force received reports that several LSIs violated home quarantine protocols and were seen roaming in the city. LSIs were recently allowed by the city government to undergo home quarantine upon their arrival here. However, they can only go out from their houses when the result of their RT-PCR test will be negative. According to Familiaran, 51 COVID-19 cases in this city were LSIs. The vice mayor also said that Leonardia had instructed City Legal Officer Joselito Bayatan to file a case against those LSIs who defied health protocols. He said violators could be penalized under Section 9 of the Republic Act 11332, or An Act Providing Policies and Prescribing Procedures on Surveillance and Response to Notifiable Diseases, Epidemics, and Health Concern. “Any person or entity found to have violated Section 9 of this act shall be penalized with a fine of not less than P20,000 but not more than P50,000 or imprisonment of not less than one month but not more than six months, or both such fine and imprisonment,” Familiaran stressed./PN BACOLOD City – Citing safety and health concerns of students and school personnel amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak, local officials in this capital city and in Negros Occidental seek to postpone the opening of the school year slated in August. Yesterday, the city council passed a resolution urging the Department of Education (DepEd) through its chief Secretary Leonor Briones to defer the opening of classes of schools under its jurisdiction beyond the scheduled date. Councilor Renecito Novero, author of the resolution, said DepEd should avoid classes which practice face-to-face scheme of instruction until the threat of COVID-19 considerably subsides. Meanwhile, Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran, head of the City Inter-Agency Task Force COVID-19 appealed to the Deped to consider online learning in case they want to open the classes. “Better be safe than sorry,” Familiaran stressed. For his part, Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson, said he is against DepEd’s move to resume classes in August this year. In a press conference on Wednesday morning, Lacson said he would prefer that the opening of classes be postponed for at least a year until a vaccine or cure against the coronavirus disease or Covid-19 is widely available. “For me, one year of rest is not so bad. At least, it is safer by then, hopefully there is already a vaccine and cure,” Lacson said. He further added everyone should always practice caution and play it safe in order to avoid contracting the virus. Based on the DepEd’s proposal, school year 2020-2021 was supposed to begin on Aug. 24. Classes may be conducted both physically and virtually depending on the situation of the COVID-19 pandemic. The proposal also included the end of the school year on April 30, 2021, along with the cancellation of the Palarong Pambansa and Schools Press Conference./PN BACOLOD City – In this city’s “new normal”, all people would be wearing facemasks in public, and observe social distancing. There is no way for anyone to skirt these when the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) passes an ordinance mandating the practices, according to Councilor Archie Baribar, main proponent. Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran, chairperson of the city government’s inter-agency task force against the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), confirmed that the city council wanted to institutionalize the wearing of facemasks and social distancing in public as health safety precautions. People can catch COVID-19 from others who have the virus. The disease can spread from person to person through small droplets from the nose or mouth which are spread when a person with COVID-19 coughs or exhales, thus wearing facemasks and social distancing are crucial. The proposed ordinance was included in the agenda of yesterday’s SP session. Baribar hoped for a speedy deliberation and approval of the measure. Under the proposed ordinance, violators would be made to pay an administrative fine of P500 and eight hours of community service in the barangays where they reside. On the other hand, erring non-Bacolod residents would have to pay a fine of P1,000; no more community service. Any law enforcement agency of the government can apprehend violators, according to Baribar. The move to institutionalize social distancing and the wearing facemasks in public came a day after President Rodrigo Duterte stated on Tuesday that these two practices must be accepted as the “new normal” until a vaccine against COVID-19) becomes available. In a taped public address aired over state-run PTV-4, Duterte made this reminder stressing the importance of flattening the curve or slowing down the rate of COVID-19 infections in the country. “The social distancing. Ito ‘yung new life until such time na meron nang vaccine. Sundin lang ninyo ‘yan importante masyado,” he said. Duterte also reminded the public to wear facemasks to avoid being accosted by the police. The wearing of facemasks is mandatory under the government’s quarantine protocols. “Do not go out of your house without a mask. That is a must. Must comply. Tatapikin ka ng pulis. Hindi ka naman hulihin pero nakakahiya sabihin sa’yo, ‘Adre, tumabi ka muna,” he said. He also warned that the Philippines could not afford to have a “second” and “third” wave of COVID-19 infections./PN By Mae Singuay BACOLOD City – Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran believes it is “best time” for the revival of the Negros Island Region amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
This move will hasten measures and bolster the fight of the two provinces – Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental – against the fast-spreading illness, according to the city official. He pointed out that the current crisis has exposed the need for regional offices for the two negros provinces. Familiaran, who also chairs the city’s Inter-Agency Task Force against COVID-19 said “having regional offices would make it easier for local government units to follow up on their concerns since the offices will have their own funding.” He even pointed out that in the current regional setup; Negros and Bacolod are the last provinces to receive aid, even when it comes to equipment and supplies needed to combat COVID-19, which is being forwarded by the national government. The NIR was created on May 29, 2015 after then-President Benigno Aquino III signed an executive order for the region’s creation. However, the region was dissolved by President Rodrigo Duterte in 2017 after then-Department of Budget and Management Secretary Benjamin Diokno quoted the cost of the region’s retention at P19 billion./PN By Mae Singuay BACOLOD City – Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran expressed his dismay over the supposed discrimination of hospital and health workers from the local community just because they are at the frontlines of the efforts to battle the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). This was after a group of the employees of the RMC asked the intervention of the provincial government of Negros Occidental due to the discrimination they have been getting. “Indi sila dapat pag i-discriminate kay kon ma burnout na sila kag kon magmasakit wala na sang may matatap pa sang pasyente sa ospital,” stressed Familiaran, who chairs the local inter agency taskforce against the viral disease. In a letter made by Riverside Medical Center (RMC) Corporate Communications head Chuck Estrella and addressed to Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson, some of their employees were denied rides by pedicab or jeepney drivers after the first COVID-19 positive patient was admitted at the facility. Coffee shops also reportedly denied entry for RMC medical staff and some were even verbally harassed by police officers. They also received reports that some landlords and neighbors of these medical workers are ordering their staff to vacate the premises fearing possible contamination. “After all the sacrifices they make, including risking their lives, this is what we expect them to face?” Estrella questioned. In another letter made by Dr. Connie Rose Benjamin of the Philippine College of Physicians-Negros Occidental, she urged Lacson to intervene over the matter pointing out not all medical personnel in the said hospital have been exposed to the COVID-19 positive patient. She pointed out that even before the patient tested positive for the ilness, the patient had already been placed in an isolation room, and the medical staff who did get exposed are already on quarantine. Benjamin further pointed out that the public should discriminating medical workers, as they also need mental and emotional support. According to Familiaran the RMC should find a way to solve the problem of their employees by providing them transportation, a quarters for the night shift personnel. He said that the city has several buses of the Vallacar Transit Inc. but they being utilized to transport frontliners of the city government deployed at check points around the city./PN BACOLOD City – Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran expressed his dismay over the supposed discrimination of hospital and health workers from the local community just because they are at the frontlines of the efforts to battle the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). This was after a group of the employees of the RMC asked the intervention of the provincial government of Negros Occidental due to the discrimination they have been getting. “Indi sila dapat pag i-discriminate kay kon ma burnout na sila kag kon magmasakit wala na sang may matatap pa sang pasyente sa ospital,” stressed Familiaran, who chairs the local inter agency taskforce against the viral disease. In a letter made by Riverside Medical Center (RMC) Corporate Communications head Chuck Estrella and addressed to Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson, some of their employees were denied rides by pedicab or jeepney drivers after the first COVID-19 positive patient was admitted at the facility. Coffee shops also reportedly denied entry for RMC medical staff and some were even verbally harassed by police officers. They also received reports that some landlords and neighbors of these medical workers are ordering their staff to vacate the premises fearing possible contamination. “After all the sacrifices they make, including risking their lives, this is what we expect them to face?” Estrella questioned. In another letter made by Dr. Connie Rose Benjamin of the Philippine College of Physicians-Negros Occidental, she urged Lacson to intervene over the matter pointing out not all medical personnel in the said hospital have been exposed to the COVID-19 positive patient. She pointed out that even before the patient tested positive for the illness, the patient had already been placed in an isolation room, and the medical staff who did get exposed are already on quarantine. Benjamin further pointed out that the public should discriminating medical workers, as they also need mental and emotional support. According to Familiaran the RMC should find a way to solve the problem of their employees by providing them transportation, a quarters for the night shift personnel. He said that the city has several buses of the Vallacar Transit Inc. but they being utilized to transport frontliners of the city government deployed at check points around the city./PN |
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