OPAV, IATF bring EOC concept to VisMin LGUs to better manage COVID-19 response program

CEBU CITY -- The Office of the Presidential Assistant for the Visayas (OPAV) and the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) recommended the setting up of the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) in Northern Samar and in Davao City and other Mindanao local government units (LGUs) to better manage their respective COVID-19 response programs.

The EOC concept aims to harmonize data, testing and contact tracing efforts through a centralized data management system in efforts to detect, isolate, treat and stop transmission of COVID-19.  This government-led center has proved to have brought down cases in the cities of Cebu and Bacolod.

IATF Visayas Chief Implementer retired Maj. General Melquiades Feliciano and the OPAV team composed of Joel Aba, DOH-Central Visayas chief pathologist Dr. Mary Jean Loreche, Feliciano’s wife Mia Fe Feliciano and head medical technologist Prince Balaba introduced the EOC concept to Northern Samar last week and this week to Davao City to help them address the rising case of COVID-19 in those areas.

In Northern Samar briefing cum meeting was attended by officials from the Provincial Health Office of Northern Samar, City Health Office of Catarman, and Provincial and City Risk Reduction Management Offices.

In Davao City, NTF chief implementer Carlito Galvez Jr. and Gen. Melquiades Feliciano, IATF chief implementer for the Visayas and the OPAV team also briefed its local officials about the concept and the Feliciano couple will help Davao City LGU to set up its own Emergency Operations Center (EOC).

The Melquiades couple had initiated the establishment of the Cebu City EOC.  Cebu City EOC implemented the anti-COVID measures such as testing, contact tracing and isolation of positive cases, among others. Through the EOC, the city was able to bring down COVID-19 cases in due time.

Dr. Loreche and Mr. Balaba will also share various testing modalities and how to improve operation of molecular laboratory.

OPAV Secretary Michael Lloyd Dino explained that bringing the EOC concept to the Visayas and Mindanao LGUs is part of the whole of nation approach to address the coronavirus crisis.

“The efforts Gen. Feliciano with the help of OPAV to bring this EOC concept have really helped the key areas in the Visayas.  These best practices — particularly the EOC concept, methods and its structure — have been proven effective in how we have managed the crisis in Cebu and other areas in the Visayas. I hope these can help Davao City and the rest of Mindanao improve their COVID response measures,” Dino said.

Dino cited Bacolod City, where COVID cases are now manageable after the local government and health officials successfully implemented the EOC formula in the city.  He recalled that through the help of OPAV and the DOH-7 the IATF had shared the EOC concept and other best practices with the various local government units in the Visayas.

The EOC concept has been implemented in Bacolod City. Bacolod City’s positive cases declined following the establishment of its EOC and these are now being replicated in various local government units (LGUs) in the Visayas area, Dino bared.

After spending over a month in Bacolod City, Feliciano with his wife Mia Fe also flew to Pagadian City in Zamboanga del Sur with the same goal of bringing the Cebu EOC concept.

Norther Samar governor Edwin Ongchuan said that Feliciano’s presentation of the EOC as COVID-19 crisis management best practice “is already a big help to them.”

Ongchuan thanked Presidential Assistant for the Visayas Secretary Michael Lloyd Dino, Gen. Feliciano and Dr. Loreche for their efforts to help the province’s COVID response program.  He also recognized OPAV’s efforts in extending its concern and assistance to their province.

Dino added that the OPAV, which serves as the bridge of Malacañang to the Visayas, will provide logistics support for the province if they decide to send their representatives to Cebu to undergo the actual EOC training.

Recognizing the effectiveness of an EOC in addressing the pandemic, OPAV with the help of Gen. Feliciano will also organized a trainors’ training for other LGUs in Western Visayas to enable the participants how to set up and manage the EOC in their LGUs.