ANGELES City Mayor Carmelo Lazatin Jr. has addressed a moratorium request to utility companies as the spread of coronavirus disease (Covid-19) continues to impact workers and businesses in the city.
A moratorium is a legal authorization to debtors to postpone payment, or a temporary prohibition of an activity.
Lazatin is appealing to Angeles City Water District, Balibago Waterworks System Inc., Angeles Electric Corporation and Converge ICT, to give a 30-day extension on the payment of bills of his constituents, especially those from vulnerable communities, to help them during this health crisis.
"I understand that we have been affected by this Covid-19 pandemic, particularly our livelihood, but what we are doing is just the measures being undertaken by the City Government to address the said disease," he said.
Lazatin said that part of the efforts to prevent the spread of the virus in the community is also to ensure that families will be able to have basic needs at home.
Apart from assuring their public safety, the mayor said he wants the welfare of his constituents to be prioritized and protected.
"We are already struggling. During this outbreak, families should have necessary utilities and basic needs at home. Let us work together to overcome this challenge faced by the country," Lazatin said.
The Angeles City Government intensified its safety measures to prevent the spread of Covid-19 in the city.
Chief Adviser and Tactician IC Calaguas recently discussed the systematic response for suspected Covid-19 cases in the barangay level.
To date, there are no recorded cases of Covid-19 in the city.
Should there be individuals experiencing symptoms such as fever, cough, cold, and shortness or difficulty of breathing, contact the following 24/7 hotlines of the City Government -- (045-322-7796 (landline); 0917-851-9581(Globe) and 0998-842-7746 (Smart).
Calaguas said that upon receiving the call, the Quick Response Team (QRT), barangay officials or the Barangay Health and Emergency Response Team (Bhert), and members of the Angeles City Police Office will head to the location within three to 15 minutes.
Once at the location, the patient will be put under house quarantine together with all members of the household whom he or she had contact with.
"If confirmed positive for Covid-19, the patient will be taken out of the house and transferred to the container van facilities installed near the Rafael Lazatin Memorial Medical Center (RLMMC)," Calaguas said.
Meanwhile, according to Executive Assistant IV Reina Manuel, Lazatin already inspected the said container van and ordered the purchase of face masks, biohazard suits, and other medical equipment, including Covid-19 testing kits, to ensure that the city is ready amid the current state of public health emergency.
Upon the transfer of the patient, the house will be disinfected and the family will continuously be monitored by the QRT.