BACOLOD City – Some villages here presented to the city government’s Emergency Operations Center Task Force (EOC-TF) their best practices in dealing with the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
Dr. Chris Sorongon, deputy for medical data analysis and assessment of EOC-TF, said strategies and the expertise of each barangay that managed to keep their COVID-free status for the past 40 days are crucial. The task force hopes to learn from their inspiring stories.
Those who shared their experiences with the EOC-TF were urban barangays 11, 12, 22, and 24 as well as the rural villages of Felisa, Alangilan and Montevista.
These villages were initially included in the list of 28 villages without active cases for 20 consecutive days.
According to the EOC-TF, Barangay 11 has been enforcing strict protocols on the entry of people from other barangays.
Acting village chief Loynnie Grace Morales said they only allow “organic” boarding house occupants in their area.
“Barangay personnel monitor our area until midnight,” she added.
Barangay 22 chairman Diosdado Mayo, on the other hand, said he asked the cooperation of his constituents, particularly in adhering to the most basic protocols of social distancing and wearing of mask and face shield.
In Barangay 12, village officials are conducting house-to-house visits in the two puroks (sub-villages).
“Since the last locally-stranded individual who arrived from Cebu in March, Barangay 12 no longer accepts any boarding house occupants,” representative Jan Cordova said.
A center of commerce, Barangay 24 has been extra strict in enforcing minimum health protocols. The village council also provides its residents with vitamins, facemasks, and face shields.
In Felisa, barangay captain Ramon Jardin said they have established a “One Command Center” for better data management.
They also appointed “output-oriented” individuals as members of the Barangay Health Emergency Response Team (BHERT), he added.
Barangay Montevista has been focusing on the enforcement of curfew, village chief Glo-ann Tambasen said.
Tambasen said they also ensure that “establishments prone to a breach of protocols” such gymnasiums, tennis courts, and plazas are regularly checked.
For his part, Alangilan punong barangay Degie Tanista Sr. said he is “proud” of his “well-behaved” citizens. There are also those who “make sure to take care of others living in lockdown areas.”
Sorongon hopes that these barangays would sustain their momentum in curtailing the spread of COVID-19.
Bacolod, which has 61 villages, has recorded 5,177 confirmed cases as of Wednesday night. Of this number, 4,745 have recovered while there are 279 active cases and 153 deaths. (With PNA/PN)
