THE Metro 3rd Emergency Operations Center (EOC) will be operational on September 28, 2020.
Abang Lingkod Representative Stephen Paduano on Friday, September 25, said the creation and activation of EOC is part of the whole process the Inter-Agency Task Force wants to implement in the Visayas, especially in regions and provinces with high Covid-19 positive cases.
While it wanted to encourage the provincial government to spearhead it, Paduano said they cannot wait for it because of the proximity of the 3rd district local government units to Bacolod City.
As the Covid-19 cases continue to rise in Bacolod City, it is also increasing in the 3rd district, citing cases in Talisay and Silay Cities, as well as in Murcia town and Bago City in the fourth district.
"For us to contain the spread of the virus, we have to double our effort to fight Covid-19 by intensifying our contact tracing efforts, swabbing, testing, isolation and treatment," Paduano said.
"With the creation of EOC, we are augmenting and capacitating the five LGUs in the district in the fight against the spread of the virus," he added.
The Metro Third EOC will be the nerve center of the district in the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic. It aims to integrate resources and support structures of Victorias City, EB Magalona, Silay City, Talisay City and Murcia in the fight against the pandemic in 24/7 operations.
Fr. Ernesto Salvador on Friday blessed the key personnel and staff of the Metro 3rd EOC located at the EB Magalona public plaza covered court, with the presence of Paduano and Board Member Juvy Pepello, who is the chairperson of the provincial Liga ng Barangay.
The Metro 3rd EOC will have its quick response team for emergency cases, contact tracers, swabbers and data encoders to supplement the capacity of local government units and medical referral system through a telemedicine system.
Paduano said along with Representative Francisco Benitez and provincial consultant Alfredo Benitez, they will provide operational expenses and allowances for the EOC staff, with the support of the five local government units.
Benitez has requested 18,000 Covid-19 testing kits from the Department of Health on top of the 10,000 kits already availed by the molecular laboratories of the Teresita Lopez Jalandoni Provincial Hospital in Silay City, and Corazon Locsin Memorial Regional Hospital in Bacolod City, Paduano said.