BACOLOD City Mayor Evelio Leonardia has issued Executive Order (EO) 47, creating the quarantine and health protocol compliance council.
Leonardia, who signed the EO 47 on July 10, said that with the pervasive threat of coronavirus disease (Covid-19) in the country, there is a need to continually and efficiently implement the national laws, orders and guidelines, as well as the local issuances and ordinances against this dreaded virus.
He said the dynamic nature of the Covid-19 pandemic also calls for the constant review and adjustment of existing quarantine and health protocols, not to mention the issuance of new guidelines or processes for the effective control of and protection from this disease.
On June 30, 2020, Leonardia issued EO 45, an order for the second extension of the modified general community quarantine (MGCQ) in the City of Bacolod from June 30 to July 15, 2020.
Section 1 of the EO states there shall be created a Quarantine and Health Protocol Compliance Council, which shall be composed of the chairperson Mayor Leonardia; co-chairperson, Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran; vice-chairperson Councilor Renecito Novero; members Councilors Cindy Rojas, Archie Baribar, Israel Salanga, Lady Gles Pallen, Ayesha Joy Villaflor, Bacolod City Police Office director Colonel Henry Biñas, Philippine Coast Guard-Negros Occidental Chief Lt. Commander Jansen Benjamin, City Administrator Em Ang, City Legal Officer Joselito T. Bayatan, City Health Officer Carmela Gensoli, Secretary to the Mayor Atty. Edward Joseph Cuansing, Dr. Grace Tan and Dr. Anna Maria Laarni Pornan of City Health Office, and Engineer Loben Ceballos of City Engineer's Office.
The council shall review local orders and issuances related to quarantine and health protocols, thereby ensuring their harmony with existing national laws, guidelines and issuances; draft new or amending guidelines for quarantine procedures and health protocols, for the adoption and approval of the City Mayor; establish measures to check the effective implementation of and to ensure the compliance of all laws, orders, issuances and ordinances against Covid-19; and conduct meetings at least twice a month, or at anytime whenever there is an emergency.
The Task Force Disiplina (TFD) is also formed which shall be under the supervision of the Quarantine and Health Protocol Compliance Council. The TFD shall be headed by the Council Co-Chaiperson, Familiaran, who shall be assisted by Wilfredo Geolingo as Action Officer.
This task force shall be composed of personnel from the following offices: Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO), City Mayor's Office, City Administrator's Office, and Public Order and Safety Office; with additional members to be assigned by the City Mayor as the need arises.
The TFD shall mainly be responsible for ensuring the compliance of persons and establishments/offices with all existing laws, issuances and ordinances related to the established health protocols against Covid-19. The TFD may also effect arrests in flagrante delicto with the assistance of BCPO personnel at all times, the EO further stated.