3rd District Covid-19 command center eyed

THE Third District of Negros Occidental is now exploring the possibility of launching a district-wide command center to further strengthen and refine focus of the Covid-19 response triage.

It stressed, however, the assistance of the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) Deputy Chief Implementer in the Visayas General Mel Feliciano and his team, the support of the provincial IATF and the coordination and cooperation among the local government units of the District, with the support of Third District Representative Francisco Benitez and Abang Lingkod Representative Stephen Paduano.

Benitez announced this after the joint meeting in Victorias City last September 7 that was attended by Feliciano, also of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (Opapp), Paduano, Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz representing Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson, Victorias Mayor Francis Frederick Palanca, EB Magalona Mayor Marvin Malacon, Silay Mayor Mark Golez, Murcia Mayor Gerry Rojas, and Talisay Executive Assistant Nicolai Jalandoni representing Mayor Neil Lizares.

The local executives were accompanied by key members of their respective local inter-agency Covid task forces in the conference that discussed best practices in the Cebu Covid management and problems encountered.

Updates on Covid-19 cases status and health protocols, as well as border control measures in the Third District were also shared and discussed.

Benitez thanked Feliciano and his team for providing more information and guidance in increasing capacities of the LGU inter-agency task forces in managing the Covid-19 response triage in their respective communities -- testing, tracing and treating and more importantly, the isolation or quarantine capacities.

He also noted and recognize the proposal of frontliner Dr. Melvin Ibanez who recently submitted a Covid-19 response action plan.

"While we have done mostly the activities of expanded testing, isolation of LSIs and OFWs and all those infected, close monitoring and contact tracing, there is still so much more to be done in a unified and integrated process to respond to the surge of cases. The Third District has recently reported the highest incidence in the province after the mass testing," he added.

"We are moving towards ensuring the District's clustering to strengthen further health protocols implementation," he said.

Benitez announced that on September 11 and 12, 100 medical and healthcare frontliners will undergo an intensive training on more effective and efficient conduct of contact tracing for Covid-19 cases in the communities.

The two-day training will be conducted by the group of Feliciano at the Victorias Coliseum.