IATF, NTF officials meet Cebu local execs

Officials of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-MEID) visited Cebu last June 23 to discuss with local leaders the status and efforts on implementation of measures against COVID-19 pandemic.

Secretaries Eduardo Año (DILG), Francisco Duque III (DOH), Delfin Lorenzana (DND, Roy Cimatu (DENR) and COVID-19 Policy Chief Implementer Carlito Galvez, Jr. were welcomed by DILG-7 Dir. Leocadio Trovela, RIATF chairperson, and other members of the inter-agency task force in the region.

The visit came following the appointment of Secretary Cimatu as overseer of the government’s intensified response against coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) in Cebu City.

The IATF and NTF officials held a half-day discussion with some local leaders and concerned government agencies to assess the situation in Cebu, identify the problem and make recommendations for an effective government response.

The following day, Cimatu and health sector representatives also met with the local chief executives, representatives of government agencies and private health firms to prep for the formulation of an action plan on COVID-19 response for Cebu.

He underscored the direction of the stakeholders with respect to the anti-COVID efforts as well as the plan for the creation of task forces for Cebu City and Cebu Province which will form part of the RIATF structure.

A week after, the IATF officials again visited the city to meet local leaders and follow up the response efforts of the local governments. 

Secretary Ano urged the local chief executives of Cebu to sustain the gains so as to further improve the status of the province and the highly urbanized cities.

He asked the barangays and other LGUs to closely work with each other to harmonize data and improve contact tracing efforts.

DILG-7 EOC caters 20T clients in 3 months

             In a span of three months, the Department of the Interior and Local Government-7 assisted over 20,000 clients who aired their grievances and concerns regarding the implementation of the directives and measures against COVID-19 in local government units. As of June 24, the DILG-7 Emergency Operations Center received 20,087 messages from different platforms.

            Of the total number, 14,347 messages were received thru the office’s hotline number, 5,043 messages from its Facebook page, 172 messages from the Intranet, 343 calls, and 182 walk-in clients. It was on March 23 when DILG-7 Director Leocadio Trovela ordered the reactivation of the Emergency Operations Center to better serve the public in the time of crisis. DILG-7 partnered with E-Sat Pilipinas Teknik and launched its Emergency Hotline Number, 09127208913, wherein the public can raise their issues and complaints against local officials. Among the concerns and issues raised by clients include peace and order matters; nonobservance of social distancing; protocols for the Locally Stranded Individuals; interzonal and intrazonal movement of people; and the distribution of Social Amelioration Program financial assistance, relief assistance, and quarantine passes. The regional office also received numerous appreciation messages from its satisfied clients.

           After a month of test period, the office also launched the hotline numbers of the sub-regional offices in the region to directly assist the public within their jurisdiction. Clients are asked to text their names, exact address, and detailed concerns to DILG-7’s text-only hotline numbers; 09615234239 for Cebu Province; 09462517436 for Bohol Province; 09380698252 for Negros Oriental Province; 09489776193 for Siquijor Province; 09489811246 for Cebu City; 09489817400 for Lapu-Lapu City; and 09489817331 for Mandaue City.  DILG-7 also catered to the concerns related to COVID-19 raised by the netizens through the official Facebook page, DILG VII.These efforts initiated by the regional office are intended to provide an avenue for the public to air their grievances and refer them to the proper authorities for proper action. Director Trovela said the initiative aims to monitor the performance of officials in the battle against the global pandemic. “The hotline would provide the right information about directives of the government to combat COVID-19. While citizens are watchful of the activities of their leaders, this platform will keep the officials on their toes,” he said.

            The rise in messages received by DILG-7 hotline indicated that the public has become aware of this program that can be used for seeking assistance during this pandemic. Director Trovela said the influx of messages comes with greater challenge for the office to raise the bar in providing faster and better response to the clients.

DILG-7 SERVES SHOW CAUSE ORDERS ON CEBU CITY PUNONG BARANGAY AND OTHER OFFICIALS

Five Punong Barangay and their respective Sangguniang Barangay members of Cebu City were asked to explain their alleged failure to enforce the policies and regulations during Enhanced Community Quarantine.

Department of the Interior and Local Government-7 Director Leocadio Trovela issued the show cause orders for Basak Pardo Punong Barangay Catalina Cabardo, Cogon Pardo Punong Barangay Harry Eran, Sto. Niño Punong Barangay Lourdes Ramirez, San Nicolas Proper Punong Barangay Clifford Jude Niñal, Guadalupe Punong Barangay Michael Gacasan and the members of their Sangguniang Barangay.

The orders were served by DILG-7’s BK lawyers Louthera Christie Rizon and Christian Fernandez yesterday.

Officials were given 48 hours from receipt of the order to submit their written explanation on why they should not be charged for failure to perform the mandated duties and functions of a local chief executive during a state of national health emergency.

In Basak Pardo, a post of a concerned citizen showed that residents were out on the streets disregarding the strict implementation of home quarantine and mandatory wearing of facemasks. Some residents were also seen playing cara y cruz, a violation of PD 1602 as amended by Republic Act (RA) No. 9287, otherwise known as “An Act Increasing the Penalties for Illegal Numbers Games Amending Certain Provisions of PD 1602 and for Other Purposes,” and the prohibition on mass gatherings.

In Cogon Pardo, a social media post of a concerned citizen showed a number of residents staying outside their houses and some were seen playing basketball disregarding the strict implementation of social distancing and home quarantine.

In Barangay Sto. Niño, posts of local media outlets showed residents including children who were outside their houses without face masks ignoring protocols on strict home quarantine, mandatory stay at home order of persons below 21 years old and prohibition on mass gathering.

In San Nicolas Proper, a post of local media outlet circulated in social media showing that the distribution of rice/relief goods in the barangay was along the barangay road and beyond the curfew hours compromising the welfare of the constituents and disregarding the strict home quarantine measure implemented during ECQ. Some residents were seen without wearing face masks and did not follow the protocol on social distancing.

In Barangay Guadalupe, DILG-7 received a complaint from a concerned citizen that a group of people in Don Gervacio Street were seen singing and drinking,
This is in reference to the complaint received by this Office from a concerned citizen detailing that; (a) a group of people were singing and drinking in a vacant lot in Don Gervacio St., Guadalupe, Cebu City; (b) an illegal cockfighting or “tigbakay” organized by a certain person took place; and (c) people are crowding in the “manokan” without wearing face masks. The concerned citizen reported the incidents to the barangay starting June 24 to July 5. It was the call on July 4 that the police went to the area to take action on the complaint. The aforementioned incident ignored the protocols on minimum public health standards (wearing of face masks), strict home quarantine and prohibition on mass gathering.

Last week, DILG-7 served show cause orders on officials of Barangay Basak San Nicolas, Calamba, and Inayawan.

DILG-7 took these efforts following the pronouncement of Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Año who said any violation of the quarantine protocols will not be tolerated.

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DILG-7 LGMED AND DILG CEBU CITY GAVE RELIEF GOODS TO HOMELESS FAMILIES AFFECTED BY PANDEMIC IN CEBU CITY​

The DILG-7 Local Government Monitoring and Evaluation Division (LGMED 7) and DILG – Cebu City, both headed by Atty. Ian Kenneth B. Lucero, distributed relief goods to at least 100 homeless families who are temporarily housed in the covered courts of barangays San Roque and San Nicolas Proper in Cebu City.

 DILG-Cebu City and LGMED personnel were able to raise funds from their colleagues in a bid to help LGUs in giving aid to communities severely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The distribution was also facilitated by LGOO III Shara Dalogdog of DILG-Cebu City and Atty. Gerlyn Sayson of LGMED. 


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