MANKAYAN, Benguet – The municipal government urged residents in the town’s twelve barangays to sustain their adherence and compliance to the prevailing health and safety protocols to help contain possible surges in Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases in the municipality while waiting for the arrival of vaccines that will be made available by the National Vaccine Committee.
Mayor Frenzel A. Ayong stated that part of the task given to the members of the municipal government’s information and education campaign (IEC) teams is to aggressively inform the importance of abiding by the prescribed health and safety protocols because it is still the proven remedy against contracting and spreading the deadly virus in their communities.
He pointed out that people were able to adhere to such protocols for nearly a year now and they must continue doing so until such time new guidelines will be issued on easing up the existing community quarantine guidelines, saying that it is not yet the proper time for people to be complacent about the situation.
The municipal chief executive stipulated that the sudden increase in the number of COVID cases in the country should serve as a warning for residents not to be lenient on their compliance to the protocols that will guarantee their protection from the virus.
Mayor Ayong stipulated it had been observed there are some residents inside and outside the municipality who seem to have relaxed their observance of established protocols which compromises their health and that of others because threat of the virus is ever present that is why local officials and health authorities have been time and again issuing advisories on the need for people to keep themselves safe for the safety of others.
Among the basic health and safety protocols that are being implemented include the mandatory wearing of face masks and shields, the observance of physical distancing in public places and the practice of personal hygiene and regular disinfecting and sanitation.
The mayor pointed out that although the COVID situation in the municipality was stabilized because of the combined efforts of the government, private sectors and the community, it is still best for residents to remain vigilant in observing and complying with the existing health and safety protocols as the same remains as the best remedy.
Ayong reiterated that Benguet is still under modified general community quarantine (MGCQ) based on the parameters of the inter-agency task force for the management of emerging infectious diseases and there are still guidelines on health and safety that should be implemented that is why people should understand local officials and health authorities if they continue to impose restrictions
He added that the municipality has more than enough isolation units to meet the quarantine and isolation requirements of confirmed COVID patients which was achieved through the harmonious working relationship of the municipal government, the concerned government agencies, the private sector and the people in the different communities, with the hope that such solid foundation will be carried on even beyond the pandemic. By HENT