THE City of Naga in Cebu continues to implement flagship programs and projects despite the threats posed by the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic.
In her State of the City Address (Soca) during the City’s 13th Charter Day celebration on Saturday, Sept. 5, 2020, Mayor Kristine Vanessa Chiong announced that they only had 25 active Covid-19 cases out of a total of 195 cases.
They also boasted a recovery rate of 71 percent, she said.
She said they continue to implement granular lockdowns in barangays with active cases, disinfect public areas like the public market and impose a curfew and a liquor ban to prevent mass gatherings.
“While I cannot promise that we can prevent more Covid-19 cases from cropping up in our city, especially now that restrictions have eased, you can expect the City Government to continue to work despite the Covid-19 threat,” Chiong said in Cebuano.
When Cebu Province was placed on enhanced community quarantine, Chiong said they distributed relief assistance to 36,000 households in 28 barangays.
With the city on a more relaxed modified general community quarantine, Chiong urged constituents to be responsible to contain the spread of the disease.
“Moving forward, the City Government is focused now on its immediate goal to strike a balance between safety and opening up our city so our workers and business owners can resume their livelihood with discipline, community cooperation and vigilance in the observance of minimum health and safety standards as important safety nets. Clearly we each have a role in overcoming the ill effects of months of quarantine restrictions and we must do our part,” she added.
As for the City’s programs, Chiong said they continue to fund the education of 844 college scholars for school year 2020-2021.
To help teachers and students adapt to the new learning setting, the City acquired pocket WiFi devices for 1,202 teachers and 390 students for the long-distance learning modules.
The City also reopened the public library to hold online classes.
The City of Naga Schools Division is preparing 30,000 modules that will be distributed to public school students in October.
Aside from education, Chiong said the City is building two bridges in Barangays Mainit and Lutac to facilitate the transportation of farm products from the hinterlands to the public markets.
The City also rehabilitated roads in Barangays Balirong and Alpaco using funds provided by the Provincial Government.
Chiong said the ongoing 8.2-hectare coastal development project in the Poblacion area will provide space for pocket gardens, tourism-oriented facilities, commercial spaces and a port for cargoes and passengers. (ANV / JKV)