THE City Government of Baguio formed Task Force Novel Coronavirus in response to the order issued by Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Eduardo Año.
The task force will institute measure by various agencies of government if ever a case of 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) is confirmed in the city or Cordillera Region.
Albert Mogol, Office of the Civil Defense (OCD) Cordillera director and chariman of the Cordillera Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CRDRRMC), said the creation of a novel coronavirus task force in the city and Cordillera is to help curb the spread of the disease.
“The formulation of the task force will deal particularly on health protocols issued by the regional and city health department. We will strengthen the information dissemination campaign specifically with the Department of Education,” Mogol said.
The DILG order states all LGUs nationwide are advised to create their respective task forces to implement Department of Health (DOH) protocols and guidelines and extend full cooperation to the DOH and other government agencies to meet the world health emergency.
Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong in a press briefing canceled the opening parade of the Baguio Flower Festival and postponed the Cordillera Administrative Region Athletic Association (Caraa) for health security purposes.
Magalong added the conduct of the grand street and float parade of the Panagbenga would depend on 2019-nCoV health updates to be issued by the health department.
“The creation of Baguio City’s Task Force novel coronavirus is the first task force formed by a local government unit in the country which is very timely. We are confident that with our maximum preparation for this virus, we are capable on how to respond to this virus,” Mogul added.
The local task forces, which will be under the leadership of the governor or mayor, should ensure that local health authorities acquire the necessary equipment such as masks, goggles, gowns and gloves, aside from local chief executives to provide training to their health workers regarding the prevention of the 2019-nCoV.
Meanwhile, DOH Cordillera regional director Amelita Pangilinan together with Baguio City Health Service Officer Doctor Rowena Galpo have called of the public to be vigilant and to strictly follow earlier health protocols for the prevention of acquiring the 2019-nCoV.
Doctor Ricardo Runez, Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center (BGHMC) chief assured the readiness of its health facility which will specifically handle any case of the 2019 nCoV in the city and the region.
The health officials again advised the public to gather official medical health bulletins and updates regarding the 2019–nCoV from the health department, the World Health Organization, the Center for Disease Control and all government health facilities in the region.