BAGUIO CITY – – The Department of Health lead other partner agencies in calling for support and cooperation of the people of the Cordillera region in the enhanced community quarantine that is now being implemented Luzon wide.
DOH–CAR OIC Regional Director Amelita Pangilinan, in a media briefing on COVID–19 updates on Tuesday, reminded the public anew to be calm and not to panic as the DOH, local government units,and partner government agencies are on top of the situation.
As Pangilinan reiterated DOH’s advisory on the regular practice of personal preventive measures such as proper hygiene, cough etiquette and social distancing, she also advised everyone to abide by the rules on community quarantine particularly stayingat home and avoiding visiting public places and/or attending mass gatherings at this critical time.
DILG–CAR Regional Director Marlo Iringan, in the same forum, also called for public support in the implementation of the enhanced community quarantine. He assured that LGUs and barangays, in close coordination with the DOH and pertinent government agencies, will do their best in leading efforts to contain and prevent further transmission of COVID – 19.
Iringan also called on the public to cooperate with the check points, not to be intimidated but rather put their truston the law enforcement personnel manning check pointsas they are there to ensure order.
“We are your allies and we only want to make sure that there will be no more person that can infect or get infected”, Cordillera Police Regional Office Director BGen R’win Pagkalinawan said as he appealed for public support to the check points.
Pagkalinawan also assured that fast lanes will be provided for the transport of essential goods like medical and food supplies as well as for the passage of health officials/personnel and other front line workers in the fight against COVID.
President Rodrigo Duterte on March 16 declared enhanced community quarantine in the entire Luzon from March 17 to April 13, 2020 to address the threat of COVID-19 pandemic that has spread to some areas in the Philippines.
With the enhanced community quarantine, strict home quarantine in all households will be implemented, mass public transport will be suspended and presence of uniformed personnel will be heightened.
For COVID-19 updates, Pangilinan reported that as of 5pm of March 16, the Cordillera has one confirmed case (PH 96) from Abra; cumulative data of 61 Persons Under Investigation (PUIs), of which 40 were already discharged and 21 admitted in health facilities with one each from Abra, Apayao, and Mountain Province; 9 inBaguio City, 7 from Benguet, and two from Kalinga.
“We are in an extra ordinary situation and we need urgent and emergency solutions. COVID–19 is already here in our midst. Let us face it with a big bang. Together, we can win our fight against COVID-19. Laban po nating lahat ito”, Pangilinan said. **JDP/CCD-PIA CAR
