Baguio City barangays awarded for exemplary Covid-19 response

Forty-five barangays through their respective Punong Barangays were awarded cheques and plaques in appreciation to their efforts in keeping Covid-19 cases down for the last nine months of 2020.

The awards were handed out by Congressman Marquez Go, Vice-Mayor Faustino Olowan, City Administrator Bonifacio de la Pena and city councilors during the regular city hall flag raising ceremonies Monday.

According to Special Services Division (SSD)/Barangay Affairs Office head Noel Mabutas, the Covid response program was done through the initiative of Mayor Benjamin Magalong, making use of funds amounting to P700,000 from the local good governance program.

Andres Bonifacio, Scout Barrio, Upper Dagsian, Atok Trail,Middle Quezon hill, Loakan Apugan, Lower Dagsian, Manuel Roxas, Upper Quezon Hill, Middle Quezon Hill, Alfonso Tabora, DPS Compound, Pinsao Pilot Project, Session road, Upper City Market, Andres Bonifacio Caguia Rimando (ABCR), Country Club Village, Brookspoint, Gibraltar, Kias, Upper Rock Quarry, Lopez Jaena, Padre Zamora, Saint Joseph Village, and Loakan Proper barangays received P20,000 each.

Barangays Camdas, Camp 7, Fort Del Pilar, Magsaysay Private road, Military Cut-off, Sto, Tomas Proper, West Quirino Hill, Pacdal, Lourdes Proper, San Roque Village, Trancoville, Kabayanihan, Lower Rock Quarry, Middle Rock Quarry, Lourdes Extension, Pucsusan, Upper General Luna, Aurora hill proper, City Camp central, and Brookside received P10,000 each.

The Covid-19 response program dealt with barangays’ control, lockdowns and implementation of health protocols as to national and local directives, policies, memoranda, advisories, guidelines and local ordinances and resolutions.

Compliance of barangays to various communications as recorded from the local government unit, City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO), Baguio City Police Office (BCPO) and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) were part of the criteria for judging.

A fraction of the scores is from compliance to various programs on health and sanitation during the pandemic based on Health Services Office (HSO) records, while innovations as to prevention, control and Covid-19 management, and completeness of requisite requirement were considered in judging the program.

Exemplary practice or competitive edge for certain barangays was also considered and recorded for possible duplication or re-echoing.

The barangay assessment was conducted by the SSD/Barangay Affairs Office and Liga ng mga Barangay chair Councilor Michael Lawana, with participation of representatives from the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), City Mayors’ Office (CMO), OCSWDO, Health Services Office/Sanitation Office, PDEA and the BCPO.

The cash incentive shall be utilized by the barangays for Covid-19 programs and other related concerns. According to SSD Community Affairs Officer Briccio Domondon, thie incentive will help sustain Covid-19 response program while the pandemic is on-going. (Contents reposted from Herald Express).