100% Cordillera LGUs follow COVID-19 orders

By Ivy Carasi

BAGUIO CITY Since the state of public health emergency has been declared in the country, all local government units (LGUs) in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) were reported to be compliant with the orders from the national government.

               In the situational report from the Cordillera regional office of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG-CAR), all 77 local chief executives have been present in their respective area of responsibilities, and are fully informed of the updates regarding the 2019 Coronavirus Infectious Disease or COVID-19.

As of March 24, DILG-CAR reports that 100% of the LGUs are compliant with the Interim Minimum Critical Preparedness and Response Actions or the performance of their responsibilities as specified by the agency – this includes conducting of emergency meetings, mobilizing of Barangay Health Emergency Response Teams (BHERTs), alerting communities, and executing plans or policies in line with health and safety.

Also, all six (6) provinces continue to undertake measures to #FightCOVID19 such as issuance of advisory to LGUs, organization of networks for augmentation of needed resources, activation of their provincial emergency operations centers.

Meanwhile, the DILG-CAR reiterates the responsibilities of all LGUs to fully implement the Presidential directives in line with the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ). DILG issued memorandum circular 2020-062 which highlights the general and specific guidelines for LGUs on the implementation of the ECQ. These are orders on the reactivation of the Local Disaster Risk Reduction Management Councils (LDRRMC), utilization of Quick Response Funds (QRFs), strict home quarantine, suspension of classes, work-from-home scheme, establishment of checkpoints, curfew, among many others. Failure of LGUs to comply or to align their actions and programs to the guidelines shall be dealt with accordingly.

DILG-CAR regional director Marlo Iringan appeals to the LGUs for their assistance, and the general public for their full cooperation to ensure the safety of everyone.

“LGUs are expected to be at the frontline in times of crisis. Your full participation in our fight to contain and combat the virus is absolutely vital given that our local government leaders are the ones familiar with the circumstances in their respective jurisdictions, the needs of their constituents, and the availability of resources to meet those needs.” said Dir. Iringan.

Although work-from-home scheme is being implemented by DILG-CAR, it has activated its regional emergency operations center with skeletal forces on duty to closely monitor LGUs. For important, urgent concerns, send a message to dilgcarcloud@gmail.com.