By Patricia T. Bermudez September 25, 2020 BAY, Laguna - For the municipality of Bay, Laguna, strict law enforcement is crucial in an effect...
September 25, 2020
BAY, Laguna - For the municipality of Bay, Laguna, strict law enforcement is crucial in an effective COVID-19 response.
During the ‘Explain, Explain, Explain: Pagdalaw sa Laguna’ information drive of the Presidential Communications and Operations Office (PCOO) and the Philippine Information Agency (PIA), Mayor Jose Padrid highlighted their pandemic response plans that banks on security and discipline among their constituents.
Role of local legislation
Strict law enforcement and discipline among residents were key in the local government’s pandemic response plan for their municipality.
In fact, a liquor ban was enforced immediately after COVID-19 infections began in the municipality of Bay.
“Ang gamot lamang natin dito ay disiplina at pagkakaisa. Sapagkat ang kung walang disiplina, hindi natin matutupad ang ating pangarap at adhikain na labanan ang pandemya ng COVID-19,” Padrid said.
Imposing peace and order in Bay was not a problem because residents are more than willing to follow health protocols, such as the public market schedules, mandatory wearing of masks, and the ‘quarantine pass, no entry’ order.
Contact tracing and isolation
In its September 17 update, the Department of Health - CALABARZON reported that the province of Laguna has 86 new cases of COVID-19, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 13, 867 and active cases to 3, 247. Meanwhile, total recoveries has reached 10,531.
Transporting patients to quarantine facilities in nearby towns will prove to be difficult, which led the municipal government to organize its own testing, contact tracing and isolation mechanism.
“Mabilis ang recovery dito sa amin [dahil] mayroon kaming sariling Isolation Facility at ang binabayaran lang namin ay maintenance at kuryente,” Padrid said.
“Kukuhanin agad namin yung [COVID] positive patient at ilalagay sa quarantine facility namin . Yung pamilya nila na part ng contact tracing, hindi namin pinapalabas [at] sinusuportahan namin,”
Some of the largest establishments in the the municipality, such as the Grand Villa Resort, are being utilized as an isolation facility.
Post pandemic plans
The strict quarantine guidelines during the Luzon Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) allowed only one (1) person per household to be given a travel pass that can only be used for basic necessities and services.
To prevent food shortage, the municipal government allotted 9, 384 cavans of rice, 71, 700 pieces of canned goods, 15, 600 pieces of assorted noodles, 47.38 tonnes of assorted vegetables and 439, 240 pieces of basic goods such as coffee and milk in their food assistance package to affected households.
But the municipal government knew that relief packs are not sustainable. Banking on Bay’s rich horticulture industry, they provided alternative livelihood programs, such as gardening, to help workers who were laid off from companies in Metro Manila and nearby industrialized cities earn money.
“Malakas ang [kanilang] kita [sa paghahalaman] dahil bukod sa pag-o-online, maraming dumadayo galing sa ibang bayan. Mayroon din kaming Lotuspod na pwedeng mag-relax doon.” (PT/FSC)
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