Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran (File photo) "WE NEED the cooperation of everybody to reduce the local transmission of coronavirus disease (Covid-19) in Bacolod City. Whatever quarantine status we have and if our people are not listening to us, it will be useless. We need self-discipline."
This was stressed by Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran, chairperson of Bacolod City Inter-Agency Task Force against Covid-19, after Mayor Evelio Leonardia already issued Executive Order (EO) 57, placing the City of Bacolod under general community quarantine (GCQ) from September 1 to 30, 2020 after the modified general community quarantine (MGCQ) pursuant to the pronouncement of the National Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (NIATF-MEID). Familiaran said everybody should follow the health protocols to prevent the spread of the virus. He said the success and failure on the fight against Covid-19 do not depend on the city officials only, but on everybody. Leonardia, who signed EO 57 on Monday evening, August 31, said a televised announcement was made by Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque that Bacolod City shall be among the areas that shall go under the GCQ from September 1 to 30, 2020 because of the spike in local transmission of Covid-19. As of last week of August 2020, Bacolod City ranked number one in the rise of Covid-19 cases in Western Visayas, with the possibility of more Covid-19 positives coming out from the recently-conducted mass testing under Executive Order 55, s. 2020, dated August 26, and the fact that hospitals and health care facilities for Covid-19 patients in the City are now filled up. "This is unfortunate but indispensable reversal from MGCQ to GCQ status is intended to slow down the rate of local transmissions and to serve as fundamental reminder to our citizens that both the National and City Governments are always concerned about the health of the people with unquestioned determination to prevail in the battle against this Covid-19 pandemic and, at the same time, to demand from the same people their sincere cooperation and clear community awareness and understanding that the gains brought about by the previous health discipline and protocols shall not be wasted in order that our people and the local economy shall survive despite the Covid-19 health crisis," he said. Section 5 of the EO states that public transportation shall be allowed on a limited capacity and shall be operated under a valid and unexpired franchise; an insurance coverage for the passengers and/or for a third party liability; roadworthy public utility vehicles (PUVs). The other mode of public transportation of commuters/passengers by air or sea shall be subject to the existing guidelines issued by the Department of Transportation (DOTr). Inter-LGUs health and travel protocols on the basis of inter-zonal or intra-zonal transport of passengers and cargoes, including inter-island travel between Bacolod City and other LGUs within or outside of Western Visayas, shall remain in full force and effect subject to modifications that may hereafter be issued on the basis of practice and implementation of health and travel protocols. The City Government of Bacolod shall continue to provide essential government services for the duration of the GCQ. Thus, work in certain offices of the City Government specified below shall be in full operational capacity. Pursuant to DTI Memorandum Circular 20-44, Series of 2020, restaurants and fast food businesses can now offer dine-in services effective July 21, 2020 at 50 percent space capacity in areas under GCQ. Until further advice, the three major public markets -- the Central Market, Burgos North Market, and the Libertad South Market -- shall be closed on Sundays for cleaning and sanitation in observance of health protocols and public safety. In reference to the policies of the National IATF in the previous GCQ and as adopted by the predecessor EOs on GCQ and further adopted in this EO, mass gatherings are prohibited, such as, but not limited to movie screenings, concerts, sporting events, and other entertainment activities heretofore mentioned, community assemblies, fiesta celebrations, parades, rallies, public marches, non-essential work gatherings, or any other form of public or private gatherings endangering public health or health of the participants, etc. To allow workers and employees enough time to commute home after work without having to crowd public transport terminals and city streets to pick-up their rides home that would violate social distancing rules, the daily curfew to be observed by the general public from September 1-15, 2020 shall be adjusted to start from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. Curfew beyond September 15, 2020 shall be subject to evaluation and adjustment as circumstances may warrant. The ban on the selling of liquor, wine, beer, or any alcoholic or intoxicating beverage is hereby partially lifted and shall be allowed from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. only, subject to the strict observance of social distancing and other mandatory health protocols. The PNP of Bacolod City and component force multipliers shall resume and reactivate check-up points within the City and along the City's borders starting September 3 to 15, 2020, coupled with enhancement of police visibility under the same public duty of enforcing health protocols, public security and safety, and the maintenance of peace and order in the strategic areas it deemed effective for law enforcement. Maintenance of check-up points beyond September 15, 2020 shall be subject to evaluation and adjustment as circumstances may warrant, the EO further stated.
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HELP HAS ARRIVED. Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu and Presidential Assistant for the Visayas Secretary Michael Lloyd Dino along with other national government officials arrive in Bacolod City Wednesday, August 26. Prior to Bacolod, they also went to Iloilo City where they met with Regional Inter-agency Task Force of Region 6 and local chief executives. (Opav Photo) BACOLOD City Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran, chairman of Bacolod City Inter-Agency Task Force against coronavirus disease (Covid-19), has expressed gratitude to President Rodrigo Duterte for answering the urgent appeal of Mayor Evelio Leonardia to send an augmentation team of doctors, nurses, and medical technologists from Department of Health (DOH) to Bacolod.
Leonardia said Tuesday, August 25, that the augmentation team is needed as an emergency stop-gap measure before the city's health care system bogs down due to coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic. "It's a good news for all of us, we need the help of the National Government. Secretary Roy Cimatu will come here with other Cabinet officials to assess the Covid-19 situation here," Familiaran said. Leonardia made the emergency and urgent appeal to Duterte to send to Bacolod, through the DOH, an augmentation team of 150 nurses, 20 doctors, and 30 medical technologists. Senator Bong Go informed the mayor that three Cabinet officials are arriving to meet with Bacolod City officials Thursday, August 27, to assess the Covid-19 situation and to determine what immediate assistance the National Government can give to the city to help stem the spread of Covid-19. Go, in a text message, told Leonardia that the contingent will be led by Presidential Assistant for the Visayas Secretary Michael Lloyd Dino and Environment Secretary Cimatu, who was also sent by Duterte to Cebu on a special mission to help them at the height of the Covid crisis there. They will be joined by General Mel Feliciano, partner of Cimatu in the Cebu mission. The group first visited Iloilo City on Wednesday before proceeding to Bacolod where they will hold separate meetings with officials of the City and those of the province. Dino promised the mayor that the National Government "will go all the way" and give "full support" to help Bacolod City. General Robert Ancan, of the AFP Visayas Command Center in Cebu, in a follow-up call to Leonardia, also promised to field, as soon as possible, a medical team composed of Army doctors, nurses, and support health workers to augment the dwindling number of medical health workers here who are stricken with Covid-19 themselves or have resigned. Ancan further assured the mayor of further medical equipment support after an evaluation. In another phone call to Leonardia, Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (Opapp), who is also the chief implementer of the National Task Force on Covid-19, promised to catch up with the Thursday meeting of city officials with Dino. However, if he cannot make it, Galvez assured the mayor that he will come to Bacolod next week. Galvez also promised Leonardia "to deploy Region 7 nurses and doctors there (Bacolod)" and that he will also arrange with DOH-Western Visayas to bring in more medical personnel to help fill the gap in the City's need for more doctors and nurses. He will also put in place, through DOH-Western Visayas, arrangements with certain Bacolod hotels to serve as "bend-down" facilities to take in recovering Covid patients who will be discharged earlier from hospitals, so that hospital beds can be freed to admit new critically-ill Covid patients. Galvez also assured Leonardia that he will "deploy 5 High-Flow Nasal Cannula" to the Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital and facilitate that the said hospital will have stocks of Remdesivir, an antiviral drug now used for seriously-ill Covid patients. Leonardia made an urgent appeal because he was alarmed by the fact that last August 23, Bacolod hospitals had refused admission to new Covid patients, saying they have already reached full capacity or that there are no more doctors and nurses to take care of new Covid patients. "Our need for medical staff to fill up the gap in our hospitals is great, Mr. President. Patients have already died in their homes for failing to avail of emergency hospital services," the mayor said. These patients could have been given help had there been enough medical personnel in these hospitals, he added in his appeal. A TOTAL of 154 persons were arrested by Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) from August 3 to 5, 2020, for violating the health protocols set to help curb the spread of the novel coronavirus (Covid-19).
Police Lieutenant Colonel Ariel Pico, spokesperson of BCPO, said the violators were arrested by personnel of Police Stations 1 to 10, along with the operatives of Mobile Patrol Group (MPG) and Bacolod City Mobile Force Company (BCMFC), for not wearing face masks and not observing physical distancing. He said on August 5, a total of 49 persons were arrested in various barangays; 46 violators were arrested on August 4, and another 59 violators on August 3. He added the violators will be charged for violation of Article 151 of the Revised Penal Code for disobedience to persons on authority, in relation to Executive Order No. 35. The police will file the case in a regular filing. BCPO, along with Task Force Disiplina chaired by Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran, intensified its operation in various barangays to arrest those who are not observing physical distancing and not wearing face masks in public places. UPON the request of Mayor Evelio Leonardia, the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP), headed by Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran, passed an appropriation ordinance for P41.5 million for the grant of hazard pay and special risk allowance to employees of the Bacolod City Government who qualified for it.
Familiaran said the SP unanimously passed the appropriation ordinance during their regular session Wednesday, August 5, 2020. Leonardia said, “This is a form of saying thank you to our frontliners and employees who rendered work during the ECQ (enhanced community quarantine) from March 30 to May 15, 2020. They are our heroes during these trying times.” On August 3, Leonardia wrote the SP requesting that salary savings from vacant positions from January 1 to May 31, 2020, be reverted and reappropriated for an appropriation ordinance to cover the hazard pay and special risk allowances of those who qualified for it. Of the P41.5 million reappropriated, P37.6 million is for hazard pay and P3.9 million is for special risk allowance. City Budget Officer Ma. Imelda Williams said those entitled to receive these incentives are regular employees, job order workers and contractual employees of the City, who rendered frontline and other essential services during the ECQ in the city from March 30 until May 15 or for 47 days. Williams said that based on the availability of funds of the City Government, each of the qualified personnel will receive hazard pay of, at most, P350 per day for the number of days they rendered service during the 47 days of the ECQ. On the other hand, each of the qualified personnel will receive a one-time special risk allowance, which is equivalent to a maximum of 25 percent of their monthly basic pay. The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) released a budget circular providing a prorated computation of the special risk allowance. Personnel receiving “regular hazard pay” may avail of the Covid-19 hazard pay, whichever is higher, she said. (PR) For some local businessmen, the proposed new curfew hours from 8 p.m. to 4 a.m. is too early and will further hurt night businesses thus, they are appealing for reconsideration to the City Government. (File photo) IT'S too early.
This was how some businessmen viewed the proposed new curfew hours, from 8 p.m. to 4 a.m., in Bacolod City in light of the prevailing coronavirus disease (Covid-19) threat. Frank Carbon, chief executive officer of Metro Bacolod Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MBCCI), said they are apprehensive that the 8 p.m. to 4 a.m. curfew schedule might result in zero-night business activity. Carbon said this was the consensus of some members of the local business community especially retail establishments like malls, department stores and supermarkets in a consultation over the weekend. "What sustain most of these businesses now are its groceries and food sections," he said, adding that good business traffic among these establishments is between 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. when most employees have gone out from their workplaces. On Friday evening, Mayor Evelio Leonardia issued an Executive Order (EO) extending the Modified General Community Quarantine (MGCQ) in the city until August 15. The EO stated that "it advocates for consideration of the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) that the daily curfew shall be set from 8 p.m. to 4 a.m." If this is the case, Carbon said, business establishments are seen to most likely "stop operation" by 6 p.m. so to give time for cleaning and closing the stores. The business community, according to Carbon, said if the mayor intends to limit the movement of the people, the curfew hours can be reverted back to its existing schedule of 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. instead of adjusting it to 8 p.m. to 4 a.m. Carbon pointed out that in Metro Manila, for instance, which is under General Community Quarantine (GCQ), most businesses are allowed to operate until 10 p.m. "Longer curfew hours would further hurt night businesses like restaurants whose operations have already been affected due to some restrictions as part of health protocols," he added. Night businesses, or those operating from 5 p.m. onwards, comprise about 30 to 40 percent of the entire business landscape in the city. As this developed, the business sector is sending a letter today to the mayor as well as to Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran and the SP appealing them to reconsider the proposed new curfew hours. Carbon recalled that in a previous discussion with Councilor Archie Baribar, who authored the curfew ordinance, the latter said his committee will recommend a curfew starting 10 p.m. if under a GCQ and 11 p.m. for MGCQ. "We are okay with it as we are still slowly opening up," he said. It can be recalled that in a joint position paper earlier, several business organizations in Negros Occidental have expressed opposition to the request of a group of doctors to place the city back under Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ). Leaders of MBCCI, Bacolod Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Negros Occidental Filipino-Chinese Amity Club, Northern Negros Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Southern Negros Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry stressed the need to keep the balance especially in terms of implementing measures to stop the spread of the virus and its impact to local economy. For the city government's part, Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia said, “The 8 p.m. to 4 a.m. curfew is only a proposal as of the moment, and may I make it clear therefore, that today until the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) acts on this the curfew will stay at 10 p.m. to 4 a.m.” Leonardia said notwithstanding the existing ordinance on curfew and owing to the continuing concern to limit the movement of the citizens during the day in order to strengthen health protocols against coronavirus disease (Covid-19) for the safety and health protection of the general community, he is proposing to set the daily curfew from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. to 8 p.m. to 4 a.m. “If the Sangguniang will eventually act on it and hopefully by this coming Wednesday then that is we correspondingly makes some necessary changes or adjustments on our curfew,” he said. He added exemptions will be made for public emergencies, fire and ambulance services, those working night shifts in private establishments, media practitioners, and those city government and police officials and employees whose work may extend to within aforesaid curfew period by reason of the current state of public emergency. Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran for his part said the SP has yet to tackle the proposed new curfew hours on Wednesday. Familiaran, also the chair of the city's inter-agency task force against Covid-19, stressed that the City Council has yet to amend the existing curfew ordinance providing for a curfew period from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. There have been reports that some business establishments have closed early on Saturday evening due to "confusions" on the implementation of new curfew hours. ERWIN P. NICAVERA
July 30, 2020 AS TO when the Covid-19 pandemic will end, it remains uncertain. But, what is sure for now is the growing number of Filipinos facing mental health issues while the crisis continues to bring onslaught to the country. The National Center for Mental Health, in a media briefing last month, noted a spike in the figure as shown in the surge of calls it received through its hotline during the lockdown period. The center, in a report, said from an average of 13 to 15 calls daily a few months prior to the lockdown, it climbed up to 35 calls per day during the implementation of strict quarantine measures. The World Health Organization (WHO) said that added to the fear of contracting the virus in a pandemic such as Covid-19 are the significant changes to the people's daily lives as their movements are restricted. Faced with new realities of working from home, temporary unemployment, home-schooling of children, and lack of physical contact with other family members, friends and colleagues, it is important that people look after their mental, as well as our physical health, it said. Taking steps The City Government of Bacolod has already recognized the importance of giving attention to the issue of mental health amid the Covid-19 pandemic that struck and caught the world unprepared. Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran, chairman of the City Inter-Agency Task Force against Covid-19, has started convening mental health professionals and advocates in the city earlier this month. The group, during these meetings, discussed the steps on how to integrate psychosocial measures and approaches in the community as part of the local responses against the dreaded virus. As of July 29, the Department of Health (DOH) in Western Visayas reported that the number of confirmed Covid-19 cases in Bacolod City surged to 176. Over 50 cases are local transmissions. The agency noted 59 recoveries, while the active cases are 113. The death toll remains at four, it added. Familiaran said depression and other disorders including anxiety are really prevalent among Covid-19 patients and their families, as well as frontliners. "The quarantine has been extended and the positive cases continue to rise. News and social media posts are all about the virus," he said, adding that "depression is really there, it's going to the ground." The task force chair is upbeat that the volunteer group will help in the bid to address the mental health issue in the locality. Among the initial strategies they have identified included provision of different online interventions like psychological first aid, debriefing, counselling and other psychological support to those in need. Once finalized, Familiaran will then discuss the measure to Mayor Evelio Leonardia including the creation of a Mental Health Psychosocial Committee as part of the city's task force against Covid-19. "This is really aimed at helping our constituents who suffered from stress, traumatic experience and depression," the task force chair said. Advocacy Rose Jessica Octaviano, who has been advocating for mental health since 2009, is one of those who responded to the call of the local government to face this "emotional monster" that threatens the mental health of the city residents. Octaviano was a member of the defunct Philippine Mental Health Association that spearheaded activities like mental health awareness and mental disorder prevention. In the province, she is part of the Psychological Association of the Philippines - Mental Health Psychosocial Support Bacolod-Negros Hub that is providing trainings on Psychological First Aid to barangays and various groups. Presently, Octaviano is an active member of the Western Visayas Psychosocial Support for Covid-19, a social media group that provides online therapy to those needing interventions. "We hope that even after this Covid-19, the partnership with the government sector will continue," she said, lamenting that "before, only private individuals and non-government organizations are working hand-in-hand." "The government assists in terms of funding, but it was seemingly not its priority," the mental health advocate, also a depression survivor, said. One of the significant volunteer works of Octaviano was the creation of a directory containing information on where to get mental health services in Negros Occidental. This directory had linked patients of various mental disorders with mental health professionals thereby enabling the former to seek proper interventions and eventually recover from these abnormalities. "There are private individuals and groups who are really willing to help. Personally, my line of communications remains open, whether through email and Facebook, that's an assurance," she said, adding that "if the case is serious, since I am not a registered psychologist, I can refer them to appropriate mental health professionals." Brain break tips The DOH, for its part, has recognized the real threats brought by the pandemic to the mental health of the Filipinos. In fact, it has issued some tips in order to maintain a good mental health amid this global crisis. These include staying positive and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. People are also advised to give time for themselves to reflect, meditate and go back to the skills and resources which had previously helped them lessen their stress. The health agency said if there's a need to talk to mental health professionals, the National Center for Mental Health and Mind Matters Hotlines can be reached through their hotlines 09178998727 and 09189424864, respectively. Seeking help For Ortibano, seeking help from a mental health professional should not be ashamed of. Aside from the medicines and psychotherapy provided by psychiatrists and psychologists, the emotional and social support from the family are essential to help people suffering from depression. "Connect, those people you haven't checked for a while, checked them. Talk to your trusted friends. Your family, your mother. If they are not around, those that you can trust," the psychologist said. In Kenneth's case, for instance, his family and friends have helped a lot in overcoming this "emotional monster" that had almost swallowed his mental health. He was able to meet some friends online, who are also active in church activities like him. They have served as Kenneth's support group to divert his attention and lessen the boredom and sadness he felt while on quarantine. "If you keep it to yourself, you will never know in what way you will explode. You should keep your faith whatever happens," he shared. Breaking the scare The issue on mental health is not new to the Philippines. Before the Covid-19 has shocked the nation, many Filipinos have already been suffering from various mental disorders. As the country continues to be confronted by tragedies, calamities and many other events that have caused turmoil in the society, the people also need to be mentally prepared. Depression is no joke, it is an "emotional monster" that may frighten anyone. Thus, this matter should continue to be an agenda for public discussion. That, whether there is a pandemic, or none, it should be given due importance. Like how the entire nation fights Covid-19, Filipinos must also be one in breaking the scare of depression. BACOLOD City Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran warned netizens of spreading unverified reports on social media.
This came after some netizens posted on social media Monday, July 27, that Bacolod City will be placed under enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) or general community quarantine (GCQ) after July 31. "It's only a speculation or fake news. Let's educate our public that every 15 days or end of the month, the National Inter-Agency Task Force against coronavirus disease (Covid-19) will release the quarantine status of the all local government units (LGUs) in the country," Familiaran said. He said the netizens should stop posting unverified reports on social media and should be responsible with their posts. Familiaran noted that there are criteria or perimeters to consider for the quarantine status of the LGUs. "They have criteria to consider in changing the quarantine status of the LGUs. It will be based on the inputs and data from the Department of Health (DOH)," Familiaran said. A group of doctors in Bacolod City also earlier appealed to President Rodrigo Duterte and the NIATF for ECQ for at least two weeks to help contain the virus in the city. On their letter dated July 26, 2020 addressed to Duterte and signed by Dr. Ma. Ivy Malata, Philippine Medical Association- Canlaon Medical Society president, and Dr. Roberto Puerta, Philippine Medical Association-Negros Occidental Medical Society president, they said that there has been a rapid spike in the Covid-19 cases in the community, with local transmission reaching its highest in the past few days. "We would like to appeal to the NIATF for an ECQ for at least two weeks to help us contain the virus. We are not equipped for a full-blast Covid war. We only have a few hospitals, with limited capacity and equipment. We are just a few steps from being the next epicenter, and we fervently hope that you can help us prevent that from happening. We in the medical community believe that this is the best way by which we can at least halt the spread of local transmission," they said. Familiaran said the doctors were also present Monday in a Zoom meeting of regional directors of DOH, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), and businessmen among others and it was explained to them that it's not that easy to impose an ECQ in a LGU. "I respect their recommendation and let's wait for the final decision of the NIATF," he said. He added currently, some puroks in various barangays in the city were already sealed-off to prevent the spread of covid-19. City Health Office (CHO) records showed some areas that were sealed off include Barangay Estefania -- Purok Villamar, Celine Homes, Greensville; Barangay 12 -- Purok Malipayon; Barangay 35 -- Alunan-Yulo Extension; Barangay Tangub -- Villa Esperanza, Purok Seaside; Barangay Alijis; Barangay 27 -- Gonzaga Extension; Barangay Taculing -- Puroks Kabukiran, Lerio, Goldland Vil., Masagana; Barangay Mansilingan -- Plaza Allana Arceo Drive; Barangay Villamonte -- CL Montelibano Drive; Barangay Vista Alegre -- Villa Angela, Abada Escay; Barangay Banago -- Puroks Mahimulaton, Bayanihan, Riverside; Barangay 26 -- Purok Masanag; and Barangay 29 -- Purok Paghidaet. "It's clustering lockdown because we cannot afford to lockdown the entire city. Let's cooperate to prevent the spread of the virus," Familiaran said. THE molecular biology laboratory at the Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital (CLMMRH) in Bacolod City will prioritize testing the locally stranded individuals (LSIs) and repatriated overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in the city.
This was stressed by Vice Mayor El Cid Familiran after they held a familiarization tour at the CLMMRH Level 3 Biosafety Molecular Laboratory Tuesday, July 7, along with Mayor Evelio Leonardia and the city councilors. Familiaran said the bio lab has different rooms and they were briefed on the process of the swab specimen for the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) test. "It's very safe inside and its medical personnel were wearing different personal protective equipment (PPE) because there were low and high risks areas," he said. The bio lab will start to operate on July 10 and it can process at least 100 results daily. "Through the bio lab operation, we can determine the result through the City Health Office and for those who will be tested positive, we can act and decide immediately. Currently, we are sending swab samples to Iloilo City," Familiaran said. He said they will prioritize testing the LSIs and OFWs because they are now at high risk of Covid-19 and it's for free. The City Government of Bacolod earlier allotted a total of P20 million for the construction of the bio lab at CLMMRH and to purchase testing kits. Dr. Julius Drilon, chief of CLMMRH, earlier said the bio lab will diagnose severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (Sars-CoV-2). Aside from Sars-CoV-2, Drilon said the bio lab can also cater the dengue, tuberculosis, aids test, DNA typing and genomic research. "But for now, we will dedicate this facility to diagnose Sars-CoV-2 because of the organism of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19). We will be conservatively running it in the first few weeks and probably we can have 100 results per day," he added. Drilon said the bio lab will cater not only to the residents of Bacolod City but also all the residents of Negros Occidental and even Negros Oriental to ease the burden of Central Visayas. BACOLOD. Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran. (SunStar File) VICE Mayor El Cid Familiaran initiated a meeting with mental health professionals and advocates in Bacolod recently, to discuss initiatives on integrating psychosocial measures and approaches to the city’s response against Covid-19.
Familiaran, who chairs the city’s Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) Against Covid-19, said the initiative is in response specifically to the growing discrimination against Covid-19-positive patients. “We initiated this because of the prevailing situation that our Covid-19 positive patients are being discriminated in their community. They have experienced traumatic and distressing experiences and this might lead to depression,” the vice mayor said. During the meeting, mental health practitioners shared their own experiences, brainstormed ideas and came up with initiatives to address the current issues of mental health amid the pandemic. They are planning to establish a Mental Health Office to centralize and integrate relevant mental health measures, and to ensure a holistic approach in health and wellness. The group also agreed to propose the establishment of an online support system for quarantined individuals and their families, Covid-19 positive patients and the general public's benefit; and the establishment of a Mental Health Psychosocial Task Force to be integrated to the city’s IATF. Familiaran said he will bring up to Mayor Evelio Leonardia and the IATF all these suggestions and other matters discussed in the meeting. A follow-up meeting with mental health professionals and advocates will be held on July 9 at the Bacolod City Government Center. Familiaran also reminded Bacolodnons to take care of their mental health by thinking positively, doing exercise, eating healthy food and getting good sleep. Attending the meeting were Dr. Anna Maria Laarni Pornan of the Bacolod City Health Office, Bernadeth Montelibano of the Bacolod City DRRM Office, Dr. Johnny Decatoria of LCC-B, Dr. Donalyn Lastima of the Philippine Guidance Counselors Association – Negros Occidental Guidance Counselors Association, Marie Bernadeth Villanueva of Riverside College and Western Visayas Psychological Support, Rose Jessica Octaviano of Hope Foundation, Rowena Bañes of the USLS, Malou Eudela of Australia Awards, Bebce Gentilezo of JCI–Bacolod, Aileen Tranquilo of CHMSC-Talisay City, Ana Lou Panganiban of TUP-V, and Isabel Coscolluela. (PR) BACOLOD City Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran said Tuesday, June 30, that they are waiting for the announcement of President Rodrigo Duterte on the quarantine classification after the modified general community quarantine (MGCQ) in Bacolod ended on June 30.
"We will wait for the announcement of the President, but personally for me, we will remain under MGCQ because we still have new cases of Covid-19," said Familiaran, chairperson of Bacolod City Inter-Agency Task Force against Covid-19. He said the city is not yet ready to lift the quarantine because of the new cases of Covid-19, adding that if the city will remain under MGCQ, Mayor Evelio Leonardia will also amend the Executive Order 43. Familiaran also denied the report that circulated on social media that Bacolod will be back to enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) because of the surge of the number of Covid-19 cases. "It's not true because we don't have a local transmission here. Our new confirmed Covid-19 cases were all locally stranded individuals (LSIs) and repatriated overseas Filipino workers (OFWs)," Familiaran said. The Department of Health (DOH)-Western Visayas reported Tuesday, June 30, five new confirmed Covid-19 cases in Bacolod City. The new patients are 25-year-old female, a 29-year-old female, 35-year-old female, 41-year-old female, and 26-year old male, all are in quarantine facilities in the city. As of June 29, a total of 410 LSIs and OFWs in Bacolod City were also tested negative for coronavirus. Meanwhile, Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson issued an executive order extending the duration of MGCQ over the entire province of Negros Occidental until July 15. |
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