LGUs’ crucial role in waging, winning war against COVID-19

MINERVA BC NEWMAN

CEBU CITY – Office of the Presidential Assistant for the Visayas (OPAV) undersecretary Gerald Jonjie Gonzales believes that the role of the various local government units in the country is very crucial in waging and winning the war against COVID-19 as proven and experienced by Cebu City time and again.

Gonzales, in his Facebook post said that waging war against Covid-19, a fight that must be led by LGUs.  “In the early months of this year Cebu City experienced it's second wave, the people and the LGU didn't blame the national government.  Instead, they got their acts together--the LGU, business sector and the people of the city with the national government like last year helped them and provided technical expertise and logistical support.”

Gonzales bared that what made the team win the battle against Covid-19 the second time around was when the LGU, through the help of Gen. Mel Feliciano, IATF Visayas Chief Implementer strengthened the emergency operations center (EOC) that was setup during the first wave of the virus in the city.

With the establishment of the EOC the team developed an EOC Manual for any LGU to follow as guide to setup its EOC. Gonzales added that the war against COVID-19 must be waged down at the barangay level.

“It is a war that has to be led by the LGUs with the full backing of the national government, not the other way around.  The success of COVID-19 response lies on how the LGUs react,” he said.

Gonzales further noted that if the LGUs choose the easier path of simply strict border control and lockdown without doing the hard work of aggressive testing, efficient contact tracing and immediate isolation there's no way an LGU can safely reopen its economy without sacrificing the health of their people.

Another key component is the strict adherence to minimum health standard which is everybody's job not just the national government, he added that the easy path is strict border control and lockdown and turning a blind eye on making sure their constituents follow health protocols.

Almost anywhere in the country, there's already community transmission, Gonzales said and that the order of battle is really waging a fight within the community not just by protecting its borders.

He went on that equally important is management of the LGUs health care system. This is where the business sector that owns most of the hospitals play a big role. Supported by DOH-7 and the LGU. This is where the heroic health care workers (HCWs) and front-liners always put up a brave front.

“Battle against Covid-19 is always won (I chose to use the words winning the battle because none have won the war yet not even the richest nations on earth) because of the LGU and its people supported by the national government.  Cebu City has proven it twice,” Gonzales concluded.