BACOLOD Mayor Evelio Leonardia underscored once again the importance of proper coordination and local government initiative as measures to address the rise of Covid-19 cases in local government units (LGUs).
He stressed this during the virtual meeting of the Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines (Ulap) Monday, August 3.
The virtual meeting narrowed the discussion to the protocols of managing the arrival of locally stranded individuals (LSIs) in their respective cities, municipalities, and provinces.
Leonardia, as the national president of the League of Cities of the Philippines (LCP), agreed to the suggestion of LGUs coordinating with the Regional IATF instead of the National IATF for efficiency and accessibility.
"It's all about coordination," the mayor said.
He also reemphasized the importance of retaining the authority of LGUs to impose local health protocols for the LSIs.
Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Eduardo Año adhered to the points of Leonardia and said that LGUs must take an extra mile in initiating protocols for returning LSIs.
Taking part in the virtual meeting were National Task Force Covid chief implementer Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr., Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, DILG undersecretary Epimaco Densing III, and Commission on Higher Education Chairman Popoy De Vera.
Also present were the top officers of Ulap, LCP, League of Provinces, League of Municipalities, other major local officials' associations, and local chief executives across the Philippines. (PR)