Cagayan Valley RDC sets COVID-19 measures

By Liezle Basa Inigo

The Cagayan Valley Regional Development Council (RDC2) set plans to address coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) measures, the general community quarantine (GCQ), and President Duterte’s “Balik Probinsya” Program convened on May 6 during their first virtual executive committee meeting.

Isabela Gov. Rodito T. Albano III, as new chair of the RDC, presided over the virtual meeting with Gov. Manuel N. Mamba of Cagayan, Gov. Carlos M. Padilla of Nueva Vizcaya and Gov. Dakila Carlo E. Cua of Quirino. Also attending was Private Sector Representative (PSR) Blessida Diwa as the new co-chairperson.

“I am appealing for your help and support so that our leadership will be a shared one, and look forward in meeting all the challenges and finding solutions as one,” he said.

Mamba reported that about fifty percent of COVID-19 cases in the region came from Tuguegarao City, and, as a regional center, the influx of workers and employees would be expected in the city once a GCQ is implemented.

As a precautionary measure, Mamba urged employers to reduce the number of their employees to no more than 50 percent to be physically present in their respective offices or establishments to minimize the movement of people.

Meanwhile, Dr. Letecia Cabrera, officer-in-charge Regional Director of the Department of Health presented the latest statistics, medical efforts, preparations and activities to contain the spread of the disease in the region.

She said the DOH was in the process of putting up a Regional Laboratory Testing Facility for COVID-19 in the region.

Dr. Glenn Matthew Baggao of the Cagayan Valley Medical Center (CVMC) sought the intervention of the RDC to fast track DOH approval of their application for accreditation of CVMC as the Regional Laboratory Testing Facility for COVID-19.

Cua also suggested the inclusion of Southern Isabela Medical Center (SIMC) as one of the COVID-19 laboratory testing facilities to cater to patients from Santiago City and neighboring municipalities down south, including the province of Quirino.

Dante D. Balao, Office of the Civil Defense Regional Director, gave updates on the region’s quarantine status.

He said that the COVID-19 measures in Region 2, like contact tracing, contributed much in the fight against the disease in the entire nation, and proposed massive testing.

He said it will be an effective strategy to identify those who are infected by COVID-19 so that they will be isolated to prevent further spread of the disease.

Meanwhile, Regional Director Fernando R. de Villa Jr. of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) gave updates on the status of the implementation of the Social Amelioration Program (SAP) including other related initiatives to aid those affected by the COVID-19 crisis.

Likewise, Regional Director lawyer Evelyn R. Ramos of the Department f Labor and Employment (DOLE) discussed the government assistance to the displaced Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) Regional Director Ledres discussed the Balik Probinsya Program proposal of Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go on his call to decongest Metro Manila by encouraging Metro Manila residents to return to their home provinces.

Albano thanked everyone for a fruitful discussion among members of the Regional Development Council, with the regional different government line agencies and the private sector.