Baguio, nearby Benguet mayors restrict borders

By Marlo Lubguban

BAGUIO CITY – The mayors of Baguio City, La Trinidad, Itogon, Sablan, Tuba, and Tublay (BLISTT) signed on Dec. 14 a joint advisory for temporary enhanced border regulation between the units of the BLISTT from Dec. 16 until Dec. 22.
    This was decided during an earlier emergency meeting
of the BLISTT governing council on Dec. 7, noting possible rise in Covid-19 cases during the Christmas season, and the burden on health facilities and personnel in the BLISTT were discussed.
    During the Dec. 7 meeting, doctors from the Dept. of Health-Cordillera, the City Health Services Office, and the World Health Organization Philippines presented their data, insights, and recommendations to address the current situation and the anticipated surge.
    Regional data from the DOH-CAR showed as of Dec. 5, over 80 percent of the total confirmed Covid-19 cases and over 80% of Covid-19-related deaths in the Cordillera region were from the BLISTT area. 

DOH-CAR recommended addressing the rising number of cases in the BLISTT particularly in La Trinidad and Baguio City by limiting travel and mobility to only official business and access to essential goods and services is key to curbing the spread of the virus in the rest of the region.
    Dr. Socorro Escalante of WHO Philippines said in this new phase of the pandemic with policy adjustments made, health and the economy should not be treated as a dichotomy.
    She said that the economy must be supported with proper health guidelines and policies based on science and data.
    National Economic Development Authority Cordillera regional director Milagros Rimando requested data on the recent lockdown to determine its effectiveness and policy decisions.
    Itogon Mayor Victorio Palangdan said while the people of Benguet were initially apprehensive with the previous decision on border restrictions, they have come to realize that it was for the better. Similar restrictions were planned in anticipation of the holiday break which the BLISTT mayors agreed to.
    Palangdan, who is also the president of the Benguet League of Mayors, said that he will gather Benguet mayors and meet with Gov. Melchor Diclas to discuss necessary guidelines.
    Planning is on to strategize new tourism thrusts in BLISTT and provide new approaches to help the economy recover.
    Mayor Armando Lauro of Tublay offered to host planning workshops in his municipality later this month.