CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (PIA)--Noting the adverse effects of the Delta variant present in Cagayan de Oro and Gingoog City, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG)-10 calls for a stricter implementation of the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ), and speedy distribution of relief goods and financial aid.

"We have been coordinating closely with Director Gen. Rolando Anduyan ang atoang Police Regional Office 10 just to ensure nga ang atoang mga kapulisan kini sila nahatagan gihapon ug kaangay nga direktiba ug kini sila gatabang sa atong mga local government units sa atong  istrikto nga pagpatuman sa atoang minimum health standards," DILG-10 Regional Director Arnel Agabe said.

(our Police Regional Office 10 just to ensure that our police personnel are given the right directives and for them to help our local government units to strictly implement the minimum health standards)

During the CORDS-X Podcast with Communications Sec. Martin Andanar, July 31, Agabe said the Philippine National Police (PNP)-10 established border controls between Cagayan de Oro and nearby towns citing that the existence of Delta variant in the two cities is very alarming. 

For her part, PNP-10 Spokesperson Michelle Olaivar said they have established 12 checkpoints within Cagayan de Oro City and they also issue Ordinance Violation Receipt (OVR) to those who defies the protocol. 

As of July 1-29, 2021, the Cagayan de Oro City Police Office (COCPO) has recorded 2,643 violators of the minimum protocol health standards where 1,156 came from violation on not wearing a face mask, improper wearing of face mask (102), not wearing of face shield (549), improper wearing of face shield (12), and violation of rule on social or physical distancing (823).

In Gingoog City, 99 violators were recorded, July 29, where 12 come from violation on not wearing a face mask, improper wearing of face mask (28), violation of rule on social or physical distancing (26), and curfew violation (31).

Relief and financial assistance

"We’re able to closely coordinate with the Department of Social Welfare and Development, sa DSWD. Kita nangutana kung unsa ang pwede nila nga ikahatag nga tabang sa atong mga (We asked on what they can give to our) local government units and we have also facilitated ang atoang mga (our) local government units so they should be able to give their requests sa (to) DSWD," Agabe said. 

The regional director also lauded DSWD-10 Regional Director Mari-Flor Dollaga-Libang for taking the initiative in submitting a proposal for special financial assistance for the affected individuals of Cagayan de Oro and Gingoog. 

Any time soon, Agabe said the DILG, DSWD, PNP, and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) will have a memorandum of agreement (MOA) in the provision of the special financial assistance. This is to ensure that the assistance will be properly distributed.

He added that the special financial assistance comes from the national government as President Rodrigo Duterte mandated the concerned agencies to provide speedy assistance to the affected residents of Cagayan de Oro and Gingoog. 

Also, during the Normin COVID-19 Response Task Force press conference, July 30, Agabe said, "Every individual would receive P1,000 but the maximum is P4,000 per family nga (who is) affected sa (in the) declaration sa (of the) Enhanced Community Quarantine."

He added that Gingoog LGU was already able to submit their distribution plan and DILG is still waiting for the distribution plan of Cagayan de Oro City.

After more than a year of battling against the adverse effects of COVID-19, Agabe hopes that the LGUs as well as the residents have learned a lot from the experience, and would be able to improve on their COVID-19 response to eventually prevent and contain the spread of the virus. (RTP/PIA-10)