LATELY, a growing number of Covid-19 cases were reported in the Municipality of Magalang involving some municipal elected officials, municipal officials and employees, barangay officials and some private citizens. This is quite alarming. In relation to this emerging situation, let us stay vigilant and alert.
I urge the present local leadership to seriously look into this and, if possible implement strictly the observance of health protocols like wearing facemask and face shield, social distancing and avoid special gatherings especially now that a new UK variant was uncovered which, according to the latest findings from the health experts is highly contagious and easily transmissible.
This in effect will cause heartbreaking fears and anxieties to the people of Magalang. To gather a complete and reliable data on Covid-19, it is humbly suggested to the present leadership to conduct contact tracing and swab testing in coordination with Magalang Health Unit and barangay officials. The idea behind this is to identify who have symptoms and who are in the state of asymptomatic and those who are positive of Covid-19.
While it is true this process incurs additional expenses on the part of the local government but the returns of investment in so far as the health and safety of the Magalenos is concerned is very much appreciated.
Mayor Pecson misses the golden opportunity to prove his worth as father of Magalang under the present pandemic crisis, he could have done something great to sustain the usual status of Magalang as the greenest and cleanest Municipality not only in the province of Pampanga but the whole Central Luzon.
The town of Magalang, modesty aside, maintained that honor and as a matter of fact the recipient of Hall of Famer during my three consecutive term as Mayor from 1998 to 2007.
The present Magalang local chief executive, I am sorry to say, is less concerned to follow the footstep of his predecessors to observe hygiene and cleanliness in our surroundings. To prove my point, you will see around garbage packed in plastic bags scattered along the main roads of Magalang and the mushrooming of illegal vendors in practically every corner of Magalang thoroughfare, selling foodstuffs, beverages and personal belongings to passers-by unmindful of the rules in the observance of health protocols. These pose danger to the consuming public.
Nevertheless, let us all close ranks and join hands to heal as one in the fight against this global disease. In so doing, at the end of the tunnel there is a ray of hope for all of us. And, eventually overcome the threat and challenges ahead of us.