By Jun Enriquez
Iligan City - Philippine President Rodrigo Roa Duterte was
empowered by congress through the Republic Act No. 11469, otherwise known as Bayanihan
to Heal as One Act,” approved March 24, 2020, declaring National Emergency
arising from the corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
However, the nationwide Enhance Community Quarantine
(ECQ) started March 16 until April 14, 2020 to prevent the escalation of the dreaded
corona virus disease (COVID-19) of local transmission. In the said law,
President Duterte was also empowered to realign budget to at least PhP200
Billion to mobilize assistance and help for
the Filipino people during the ECQ period.
Presidential proclamation 922 series 2020 mandates creating
the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF), among others, to implement the ECQ program for
the protection and safety of the people against COVD-19. The Congress required Duterte
to provide reports weekly, every Monday, for the updates of the ECQ program
implementation. Just recently, the ECQ was extended until April 30, 2020 in
Luzon area.
The COVID-19 pandemic first striked in Wuhan City in
Hubie province of China in December 2019 and later-on the World Health
Organization (WHO) alarmed the whole world in January 2020 about the incident
and declared it pandemic sometime in February 2020. US President Trump insisted
that COVD-19 was originated coming from China, likewise, China accused the US
military who brought it to China. The WHO advised the many countries to keep
social distancing at least one meter apart and maintain personal hygiene, as
much as possible to stay at home to prevent massive community transmission and the
cause of deaths. The WHO is working in cooperation with the countries around
the world to end the covid-19 pandemic by flattening the curve.
President Duterte urged the support from the local
government units (LGUs) in the implementation of the Enhance community
quarantine (ECQ) and mobilize assistance of basic necessities to families and
individuals affected by the imposition of the ECQ. Duterte said immediately provide
healthcare including medical tests and treatment to COVID-19 patients, persons
under investigation (PUIs), persons under monitoring (PUMs) in coordination
with the national government, especially on the Department of health (DOH).
In Iligan City, Mayor Celso Regencia issued series of
Executive orders (EOs) implementing ECQ and to mobilize assistance to the constituents
of 44 barangays. Regencia also implemented Curfew hours during the early
evening to early morning the following day for at least 10 hours daily. The
latest curfew hour implementation will start at 7:00 P.M. to 5:00 A.M., based
on the Executive order number (EO) 37 dated April 9, 2020. The ECQ in Iligan
City is extended until April 30, 2020 ordering people to maintain social
distancing, always keep on personal hygiene and washing hands, especially stay
at home to avoid community transmissions of COVID-19 pandemic.
During the press briefing on April 9, 2020, Dr. Quitos, Infectious
disease specialist of the Iligan City Health Office told reporters that there
were seven Persons under Investion (PUIs) for the past seven days placed on
self-quarantine and identified no persons under monitoring (PUMs). The Iligan covid
and treatment facility (ICTF) located at the Iligan City National High School (ICNHS)
had admitted one patient suspected of covid-19. Any persons with the same symptoms
of covid is considered suspect of covid-19. Quitos admittedly gave no assurance
that Iligan City has no local transmissions on covid-19 because only the Department
of Health (DOH) can give assurance that Iligan City has or no local
transmissions base on test results.
Regencia in his pronouncement during the press conference dated March 30, 2020, stressed out that the local
government of Iligan City is much prepared to extend assistance for Iligan
constituents during the period of the ECQ, with at least 12,000-13,000 bags of
rice stocked at the NSC compound to be distributed to the 44 Barangays of
Iligan City. This was confirmed by the Association of Barangay Council (ABC)
President and City Councilor Cesarve Siacor that the 10,000 bags of imported
rice Princess bea brand at 25 kilograms per bag had been released and distributed
to barangay constituents to be repacked at 3 kilograms of rice per family.
Added to this, Regencia told reporters of the March 30 press
conference thru the Philippine
Information Agency (PIA), Iligan City, of a full video coverage posted in
facebook, that the Iligan City LGU has available calamity fund for 2019
amounted to at least PhP30 Million, another calamity fund for the year 2020
amounted to PhP104 Million and a buffer fund amounted to PhP34.4 Million. In general, a total amount of PhP168.4 million
to fund the basic needs of the people of Iligan City.
In another media briefing on April 9, 2020 live streamed
in the official facebook page of Iligan City Government, Regencia again told
reporters that there is available funds in the amount of PhP137.6 Million
intended for the Bayanihan program due to COVID-19 crisis equivalent to the one
month internally revenue allotment (IRA), a remaining balance of calamity fund
for 2020 is amounted to PhP74 Million from the original amount of PhP104
Million with approximately spent the amount of PhP30 Million, and savings of calamity
fund from 2013-2019 is amounted to PhP84 Million. In summation, a progressive total
is amounted to PhP295.6 Million.
Regencia said there is a separate fund from the approved
loan from the PHILHEALTH amounted to PhP48 Million for medical assistance intended
for COVD related illnesses.
Many people in Iligan City complaining because only 3
kilograms of rice received per family from the Barangay council and another 3
kilograms provided from the local government. Iligan city constituents expected
that the next round of food assistance will be 25 kilograms and grocery items including
canned goods because there is money intended for the crisis but has never been
released yet.
Based on the pronouncements of Mayor Regencia in a series
of press briefing held in Iligan City, dated March 30 and April 9, data
collected will have a combined funds for the following; a buffer fund at PhP34.4
Million, the remaining balance of 2020 calamity fund at PhP74 Million from the
original amount of PhP104 Million, an IRA for one month at PhP137.6 Million,
and savings of calamity fund from 2013-2019 is amounted to PhP84 Million. Therefore,
a progressive total of the combined funds amounted to PhP360 Million to be used
for the basic needs of the people during the entire duration of the COVID-19 pandemic
crisis in Iligan City.
A socio-economic analysis based on 2015 census, Iligan City is
populated with 342,618 people. Given the estimated average of 4 individuals per
family will have a total estimates at 85,655 families. Based on the progressive
total fund at PhP360 Million, therefore, every family is entitled to received PhP4,203.00
in a form of cash or food items enough to provide 25 kilograms of rice and
grocery items including canned goods for the rest of the ECQ implementation. Reiterating
to this, the 12,000-13,000 bags of rice and the loan amount at PhP48 Million for
medical assistance are expected for a separate funds. with reports by Hermie Arcilla.