Various groups have convened a meeting on Wednesday to discuss new strategies for the implementation of the modified general community quarantine (MGCQ) in the City of San Fernando.
The meeting included members of the Incident Management Team, task force leaders, barangay cluster heads, and Federation of Homeowners Association.
“Muling tumataas ang kaso hindi lamang dito sa siyudad kung hindi maging sa mga katabing lugar natin. Kaya kinakailangan muling mag-isip ng panibagong istratehiya at tugunan ang kasulukuyang sitwasyon,” Mayor Edwin “EdSa” Santiago said referring to the spike in Covid-19 cases in the city and nearby areas.
One of the strategies Santiago was talking about is the re-establishment of barangay control points. Barangay officials are expected to ensure that the control points are manned and that strategies are devised and implemented to facilitate access for emergency cases.
Lt. Col. Paul Gamido, city chief of police, reiterated the guidelines for the border control measures.
“Pakibantayan po ninyo ang mga seniors at minors dahil bawal pa rin silang lumabas, pati po ang mga walang quarantine pass at hindi APOR [authorized persons outside residence]. Sa mga bantay bayan, you can flag down anyone violating quarantine rules kasi kayo ay mga pulis sa barangay,” Gamido said.
The chief of police further enjoined Fernandinos to report to authorities violations of community quarantine protocols and minimum health standards, including but not limited to the following: failure to wear face masks; non-practice of physical distancing; unauthorized mass gatherings; movement of unauthorized person/s outside residence; and, violation of home quarantine protocols.
Meanwhile, the city is helping the 35 barangays in identifying buildings to be converted as Barangay Isolation Units (BIU) which will be used to house Persons Under Monitoring (PUMs) coming from outside Pampanga.
This, in accordance with the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Memorandum Circular 2020-023, mandating barangays to establish their own temporary isolation facility to accommodate PUMS coming from other places.
Dr. Renely P. Tungol, officer-in-charge of the City Health Office and COVID-19 Emergency Operations Center Incident Commander, said BIUs will help in ensuring that the city isolation facility is not overwhelmed by the huge number of patients.
Along with the BIUs, the “Kapitbahay Ko, Bantay Ko” initiative of reporting suspect/probable/confirmed COVID-19 cases or PUMs will also be implemented in every community.