ILOILO – The provincial government has established proactive measures to help residents, especially those in the vulnerable sectors, cope with the psychological and social effects of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic (COVID-19).
The Program for Resilience of Ilonggos in Mind and Emotion (PRIME) is part of Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr.’s recovery program “Rehabilitation and Transformation of the Province of Iloilo to Catalyze Recovery (RT-PCR).”
“Component ini sang aton nga PLAN RT-PCR. It addresses the psycho-social effects of the collective stress and anxiety nga ginahatag sa aton sang COVID-19, but not only COVID-19 kundi sang kabilogan,” Defensor said.
On Thursday, the governor led the launching of PRIME at Casa Real de Iloilo or the old Iloilo provincial capitol on Bonifacio Drive, Iloilo City.
“PRIME will provide a proactive approach. Ang strategy daw parehos man sa COVID-19 – to detect, to isolate and to counsel,” Defensor said.
He banked on the help of officials from barangays, Sangguniang Kabataan and municipal governments to detect vulnerable sectors like pregnant women, persons with disability, single parents, senior citizens, students struggling to cope with online learning and those who lost their jobs.
“We want to provide a venue nga kon gusto nila magsugilanon, we can extend professional help sa aton problematic nga pumuluyo, and gusto naton nga pangitaon sila, indi ta gusto maghulat sa mga tawo,” Defensor said.
According to the governor, PRIME is prioritizing individuals experiencing shocks due to the changes; having difficulties managing challenges in life; detected to have mental disorders; returning overseas Filipinos and locally stranded individuals; and frontline workers exposed to stressful work demands and environment.
There are also six strategies in the implementation of PRIME. These were promotion like information education campaign materials, guesting in radio programs, creation of Facebook page and awareness on netiquette rules; detection and prevention; provision of psychological first aid and psychosocial processing; capability-building for frontline partners and community members; monitoring and evaluation and collaboration.
For her part, Emma Ledesma, acting department head of the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office, said her department plans to put up a clinic at the capitol building or at Casa Real for vulnerable sectors, among others. A psychiatrist or psychologist will be assigned to manage the 24/7 clinic.
Ledesma encouraged other local government units in province to adopt the PRIME.
She also advised persons who need counseling to call the numbers 0915-542-6885; 0946-539-7929; 0977-122-0327; and 0998-539-6704.
For students, they should contact 0917-188-0877./PN
