CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (PIA)—Determined to counter the adverse effects of coronavirus disease (COVID)-19, the Northern Mindanao Task Force (NMTF) for COVID-19 strengthens efforts to boost safety seal compliance and speed up distribution of relief assistance to locals affected with the implementation of the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ).

Based on the regional data reported by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE)-10 as of end July 2021, a total of 130 establishments have permanently closed, displacing 1,716 workers. 

“Moreover, 1,803 establishments have temporarily closed, affecting 34,477 workers. Roughly 719 establishments have retrenched or reduced their workforce, displacing 9,430 workers,” National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA)-10 Regional Director Mylah Faye Cariño said during the Normin COVID-19 Response Task Force daily briefing, August 7. 

Noting such impact of the quarantine status to the region’s workforce, several national line agencies worked on the Safety Seal Certification of establishments to ensure containment of the virus and unparalyzed economic activities. 

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG)-10 for one, has issued 249 certificates to government establishments. The local government units (LGUs) have issued a total of 38 certificates to their assigned establishments. 

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)-10 has approved 55 Safety Seal applications and is currently evaluating 64 applications. 

In the tourism sector, the Department of Tourism (DOT)-10 approved 30 of 31 applications while the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE)-10 issued certificates to 19 establishments out of the 29 requests received. 

"The DBP (Development Bank of the Philippines) and LBP (LandBank of the Philippines) have loan programs that assist LGUs, the education sector, MSMEs (micro,small and medium enterprises), and small farmers/fisher folk. The DBP has approved P432.63 million under three programs, and the LBP has approved P185 million under two programs,” Cariño said. 

Relief, financial assistance

With the signing of the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) among the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), DILG, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Local Governments of Cagayan de Oro and Gingoog, ECQ-affected locals are assured of financial assistance from President Rodrigo Duterte.

About 53,000 families or individuals will receive the cash assistance based on the guidelines provided by DSWD-10 through funds handed over to Gingoog City amounting to P212 million while 191,956 beneficiaries are targeted in Cagayan de Oro City with a total budget of P767.8 million. 

Cariño added that as of August 2, DSWD-10 has provided 44,344 Family Food Packs (FFPs) amounting to P20.68 million to Gingoog City and only 1,844 FFPs are needed to fulfill the LGU’s request for 46,188 beneficiaries.

A total of 15,000 FFPs have been turned over to Cagayan de Oro City as of August 5 and 15,000 additional FFPs are expected to arrive over the weekend. 

For food security, the Department of Agriculture (DA)-10 continues to monitor major markets in the city to ensure stability of commodity prices.

DA-10 also conducts the Kadiwa at Diskwento Caravan on a regular basis to include daily fairs at Robinsons, Limketkai, Ayala Centrio and SM Uptown. The caravan is also held every Saturday at Xavier Heights, Gran Europa and Forest View in Cagayan de Oro City. 

As of August 6, there are 659 new confirmed COVID-19 cases, 13 deaths, and 176 recoveries in the region. (RTP/PIA-10)