Call for unity vs Covid-19 takes center stage in Maasin 20th cityhood anniversary

MAASIN City Mayor Nacional Mercado called for unity against coronavirus disease (Covid-19) during the 20th cityhood anniversary on Monday, August 10, 2020.

Following this year’s theme “Panaghiusa panahon sa pandemya,” Mercado appealed for everyone’s support and prayer for the city to surpass its Covid-19 cases.

On August 7, Mercado announced that another two Covid-19 patients were discharged from the isolation center for community reintegration, bringing the total number of active cases in the city to 20 since its first reported case on June 17.

“Due to the present situation on Covid-19 in our province and city, once again, we are asking for all your understanding and cooperation to strictly follow basic and mandatory health protocols for us to be able to stop the chain of transmission. We cannot win if we cannot work together in fighting against this virus,” the mayor said.

Meanwhile, Mercado thanked the different groups and individuals who continue to extend donations to the city’s Covid-19 response.

The mayor lauded Floi Dolauta of Rotaract Maasin City Chapter for their move to distribute alcohol, vitamins and pulse oximeter to the three health units in the city.

“In times like this, no amount is too big or small. Every donation counts,” Mercado said in a statement.

He also thanked Maasin Community Multi-Purpose Cooperative (MCCI) board members led by the Chairman of the Board Arnulfo Abiñon and its Manager Alberto Gaviola for their “Feed a Returnee and Frontliner Program” from August 5 to 11.

With over 85,000 population in its 70 barangays, Maasin became a component city of Southern Leyte on August 10, 2000, by virtue of Republic Act 8796.

Under the leadership of Mercado, the fourth-class city successfully passed in the prestigious 2019 Good Financial Housekeeping from the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG).

The annual DILG recognition served as an “ultimate badge” to local government units (LGUs) for good performance in internal housekeeping, focusing in four areas like good planning, with comprehensive development plan and executive legislative agenda; sound fiscal management, with Commission on Audit (COA) findings or observations, status of implementation of audit findings, LGU annual budget and updated local revenue code, and quarterly and annual statement of receipts and expenditures; transparency and accountability, with compliance to the anti-red tape law and full disclosure of local budget and finances, bids and public offerings; and valuing of performance information, with utilization of performance monitoring tool or scorecard system and award recognition received.

In November 2019, the city also received the DILG’s Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG) award for the third time.

Maasin passed the tougher assessment criteria set by DILG which covered financial administration; disaster preparedness; social protection; peace and order; business friendliness and competitiveness; environmental protection; and tourism, culture and the arts.