The
coronavirus disease or COVID-19 has struck the entire world, and the
Municipality of Bayambang is no exception. The town has experienced the effects
of COVID-19 in all aspects of life and the number of cases continue to increase
despite the efforts of the LGU to reach zero cases. Nevertheless, LGU Bayambang
has come through for the people and has toiled to provide the needs of
Bayambangueños despite the sudden decline in economic activities and the rise
of COVID-19 cases in different areas in the country.
Presenting
to you the different projects of LGU-Bayambang, headed by Municipal Mayor, Dr.
Cezar T. Quiambao, the Municipal Health Officer, Dr. Paz F. Vallo, and the
Bayambang COVID-19 Task Force:
Creation of
the Bayambang COVID-19 Task Force (January 2020)
As
early as January 2020, the municipality has started its efforts in ensuring
that the virus would have minimal effects on the people. One of the earliest
forms of preparation was the enactment of Executive Order No. 9 Series of 2020
or “An Executive Order Creating a Task Force for Severe Contagious Human
Diseases.”
Free RT-PCR
and Rapid Diagnostic Testing
The
test-trace-treat method was and still is the most effective way to prevent the
spread of COVID-19, which is why the LGU continuously conducts FREE RT-PCR and antigen
testing for close contacts and symptomatic individuals.
Antigen
testing is also done within the LGU for all employees quarterly to keep them
and the clients safe inside the offices.
Distribution
of relief packs
Through
the OPLAN: BABAWI (BAyanihang Bayambang, Walang Iwanan), all 35,000 households
in Bayambang received relief packs from the local government as part of the
assistance given to Bayambangueños as COVID-19 affected the livelihood of the
majority.
Supplementary
feeding for malnourished children
Additional
food packs were also distributed to malnourished children being monitored by
the Municipal Nutrition Office. Each food pack includes rice, fruits,
vegetables, biscuits, and more.
SAP
Distribution
LGU
Bayambang worked closely with the 77 Punong Barangays to identify the 16,000
beneficiaries of the Social Amelioration Program allotted for Bayambang.
The
Municipal Social Welfare Development Office was commended for its efforts which
led to the success of the program in the town.
Intensified
Public Information Campaigns
Technology
plays a huge part in the efforts of the local government during the pandemic.
With the need to stay at home and practice physical distancing, operations
continued with the help of phone calls, video conferences, and social media
posts to inform the public in adhering to public health protocols such as
wearing of face mask and face shield, physical distancing, proper handwashing,
and more.
Teleconsultation
Bayambang
was among the first municipalities to launch the Teleconsultation Program
through the Rural Health Unit. This became a way to continuously monitor the
health of Bayambangueños while lessening physical contact to avoid the spread
of the virus.
Disinfection
for safer public spaces
Public
spaces such as the Public Market, Tricycle Terminal, Municipal Plaza, and
Municipal Hall are regularly sanitized through the collaborative efforts of the
MDRRMO, BFP, and RHU.
Disinfection
is also done in houses of confirmed COVID-19 cases.
Adoption of a
Market Schedule
To
reduce the number of people inside the market, the Market Schedule was put into
place and quarantine passes were issued and limited to one person per household
as a way to regulate the people going outside their homes.
At
the Tricycle Terminal, a disinfection tent was set up wherein marketgoers and
grocery shoppers had to undergo thermal scanning and disinfection before being
allowed to enter the establishment for the safety of the market vendors and
other marketgoers.
Mobile Market
A
Mobile Market was also mobilized to bring the goods closer to the people and
avoid congestion in the Public Market.
Implementing
guidelines from the national government
FOR
VIDEO ONLY: (curfew, mass public transport suspension, checkpoints)
Temporary
closure of establishments
Due
to the need for the people to stay at home to keep safe, the majority of
business establishments, with the exception of grocery stores and the public
market, closed down, while others, including the LGU, adopted alternative work
arrangements for the easier practice of physical distancing inside the
offices.
Lockdown of
barangays with confirmed COVID-19 cases
In
the early months of the COVID-19 spread, the LGU immediately placed on lockdown
the barangays with confirmed cases.
The
areas were secured through the efforts of the PNP, POSO, and members of the
Barangay Council. The LGU ensured that these frontliners have personal
protective equipment (PPEs) and other means of protection as they manned the
checkpoints and kept the people safe.
Preparation of
Quarantine Facilities
The
Bayambang COVID-19 Task Force designated the:
San
Gabriel 1st Evacuation Center as the Isolation Facility, and the;
Pugo
Evacuation Center as Quarantine Facility for returning residents with
incomplete documents;
The
LGU also entered into agreements with local hotels for the use of their
establishment as Community Isolation Units for Locally Stranded Individuals or
Returning OFWs.
LSI/ROF Desk
LGU
Bayambang was commended by the PNP for its LSI/ROF Desk which was set up as a
one-stop-shop to assist Locally Stranded Individuals and Returning Overseas
Filipinos in finalizing their requirements for inter-zonal travel.
Resumption of
Public Transport Operations
Once
the national government allowed the operation of buses and tricycles again, the
LGU extended its assistance to transport groups for them to secure special
permits from the LTFRB.
Clearing,
Cleaning, Disinfection, & Marking Operations inside the Public Market
In
preparation for the “new normal” and as a way to create a better surrounding
for the people, LGU Bayambang led the clearing, cleaning, decontamination, and
marking operations inside the Public Market wherein all stalls were closed from
the evening of June 29 until midnight of July 1, 2020.
Until
now, regular disinfection is being done inside the public market for the safety
of the people.
OPLAN UNDAS
In
anticipation of the arrival of Bayambangueños at the public and private cemeteries
on November 1, the LGU implemented a schedule to give families in each barangay
opportunity to visit their departed loved ones.
Initiatives of
the Sangguniang Bayan
The
Sangguniang Bayan of Bayambang is also one with the COVID-19 Task Force in
ensuring the safety of the people through its immense support and through
ordinances such as “AN
ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING FOR THE NEW NORMAL CODE IN RESPONSE TO THE COVID-19
PANDEMIC AND OR EXISTENCE OF PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY/STATE OF CALAMITY IN THE
MUNICIPALITY OF BAYAMBANG AND PROVIDING PENALTIES FOR VIOLATIONS THEREOF,
SUBJECT TO EXISTING LAWS, RULES AND REGULATIONS” which has
provided a baseline for the COVID-19 response of the town.
Safety Seal
The
MLGOO, PNP, and other offices are also monitoring the different establishments
and awarding Safety Seal certificates for those compliant with the guidelines
of the government.
COVID-19
Situationer
In
addition, a daily update is posted on the Facebook page of the LGU to keep the
public informed about the number of cases in the municipality and what they can
do to help prevent the further spread of COVID.
This
is only one among the many continuous efforts of the LGU to keep the public safe.
Our other activities include:
Regular
inspection in public transport vehicles
Information
dissemination to Punong Barangays, Barangay Councils, and the
public regarding the guidelines for each quarantine status
Regular
disinfection of the Municipal Hall, Public Market, and Tricycle
Terminal
Disinfection
of households with confirmed COVID-19 cases
Provision of
relief for households placed under lockdown
Checkpoints
Strict
implementation of curfew
Coordination
with establishments regarding the quarantine status
Implementing
guidelines from the national government
and
many more, including the Vaccination Program of the LGU.
BAYAMBANG
RESBAKUNA
Vaccination
is the most effective way in making sure that hospitalization and mortality due
to COVID-19, which is why LGU-Bayambang, headed by Task Force Bakuna, is
ramping up its Vaccination Program.
Free rides to
and from the Vaccination Site
LGU
Bayambang offered free rides to and from the Pugo Evacuation Center in
partnership with the local transport groups. This is to encourage more people
to be vaccinated as they don’t have to worry about the fare going to the site.
Free food
after vaccination
We
also offer free snacks and drinks to all individuals being vaccinated.
Temporary
Vaccination Sites
To
bring the vaccines closer to the people, we identified different barangays with
different schedules for the Vaccination Program.
The
LGU also offered a raffle draw last December 2021 for fully or partially
vaccinated individuals as part of their incentives for being responsible
residents during the Christmas season.
Vaccination
System
The
ICT Office also devised an online system for the LGU to track the data of
vaccinated individuals in the municipality.
This
is a testament of the adaptability, functionality, and active effort of each
office and each individual in the fight against COVID-19.
The
outbreak of the coronavirus disease or COVID-19 was an unexpected setback for
the municipality. Nevertheless, LGU Bayambang has come through for the people
and has toiled to provide the needs of Bayambangueños despite the sudden
decline in economic activities and the rise of COVID-19 cases in different
areas in the country.
All
these efforts are made possible through the able leadership of Mayor Quiambao,
the guidance and implementation of the Bayambang COVID-19 Task Force, and the
help of each individual and resident who are active in the fight against
COVID-19.
With
all these factors, Bayambangueños are assured that the LGU always has the best
interest of the public in mind and will stop at nothing to ensure that we can
effectively combat COVID-19 in the municipality.
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