CITY HALL BEAT
Aileen P. Refuerzo
BAGUIO CITY --
Mayor Benjamin Magalong appealed to residents to set aside politics and
concentrate on the ongoing efforts to control the Coronavirus disease
(COVID-19).
“It saddens me that amidst the health crisis that we are confronted
with, some people still have the temerity to talk politics,” he said.
He said these people had “dared to remind me either subtly or openly of
my supposed political obligations to them: ‘Mayor, huwag mo kaming kakalimutan
alalahanin mo sinuportahan ka namin. Baka magtampo kami sa iyo, makalimutan ka
namin.’"
“It is disheartening and downright infuriating to hear these words
uttered amid a raging war against an unseen yet insidious enemy;
“For the past weeks, we have been exerting our utmost efforts to lay
down all possible systems to protect our constituency from the contagion. This we
did with nary a thought to please or return favor to anybody;
“I made a commitment. I will always do what is right for the people of
Baguio. We were never selective in everything that we do. All I wanted is to
prevent the further transmission of the virus while ensuring the steady
provision of the basic needs of the community. After all, this virus does not
choose its victims;
“Political advancement is the farthest thing in our mind right now. We
have a virus to conquer and a city to protect. So we appeal to our people: set
aside politics and for once do as humans do -- care and overcome.”
***
The Research
Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) finally confirmed today the Coronavirus
disease (COVID-19) diagnosis of a 55-year old female resident who died last
March 19 bringing the total of positive cases in the city to 14 including five
recoveries.
City Health Officer Dr. Rowena Galpo said the patient was initially
tested last March 18 by the Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center that
yielded a positive result but this had to be sent to the RITM for confirmation.
At that time, BGHMC was not yet certified by the RITM to provide
confirmatory tests.
Since her initial positive findings at the BGHMC, the patient had been
listed in the presumptive death column of the city's case tracker infographics.
This after Mayor Magalong insisted on breaking free from the Department
of Health protocol on announcing cases ahead of the RITM confirmatory tests
giving rise to the coining of a classificatory term "presumptive
case" at least at the regional level.
This particular patient's case also prompted the mayor to order the
conduct of contact tracing ahead of the RITM confirmation to isolate the
contacts immediately and prevent possible transmission.
***
Mayor Magalong
appealed Friday to owners of apartments and other residential rental
establishments in the city to totally waive the rental charges for tenants
financially affected by the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) health crisis.
The mayor promised to work out with the city council the grant of
incentives to those who will heed his request.
He said a lot of individuals and families had been seriously impacted
financially by the implementation of the Enhanced Community Quarantine.
"I hope that owners of these residential units will find it in
their hearts to show compassion by waiving the payment of the monthly rent of
their renters to help ease the burdens of these affected individuals and
families," the mayor said.
The Dept. of Trade and Industry Memorandum Circular No. 20-12 entitled
Guidelines on the Concessions on Residential and Commerical Rents of Micro,
Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMES) provides that owners of bedspaces, rooms,
dormitories, apartment, houses, buildings and/or land grant a minimum of 30
days grace period on residential rent falling due within the ECQ period without
interest or penalty.
The mayor said it would be ideal if the owners would go beyond the
guidelines and totally forego with the charges.
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