DILG postpones barangay assemblies this month due to COVID-19 risk
Published Mar 11, 2020 12:00 am
By Chito Chavez
The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has postponed the scheduled barangay assemblies in the country this month in a bid to stop the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
DILG Secretary Eduardo Año (Photo from Philippine Information Agency / MANILA BULLETIN)
DILG Secretary Eduardo M. Año issued the order following President Duterte’s declaration of a state of public health emergency on Monday (March 9).
“While the holding of the barangay assembly day is important, we need to think of the greater good and ensure the general welfare of our people,” Año said, explaining that postponing the barangay assemblies is a logical move amid virus fears.
As a precautionary measure, Año also urged the public to temporarily shun social gatherings until the situation normalizes.
The Barangay Assembly is a biannual meeting held on any Saturday and Sunday of March and October as mandated by Section 397 of the Local Government Code of 1991.
At such assemblies, the punong barangay (barangay chief) delivers the State-of-the Barangay Address highlighting their accomplishments and plans and programs for the year, and discusses with their constituents the problems of the barangay and proposed solutions.
The DILG Chief said the increasing number of COVID-19 cases warrants decisive measures from the government and the cooperation of the public to help avert a more serious scenario.
Other precautionary measures
Año had earlier directed the Metro Manila local government units (LGUs) to suspend or postpone all mass gatherings as a social-distancing measure.
He noted that this was recommended by the Department of Health (DOH) Expert Advisory Group to reduce the number of people exposed to the virus, lower the risk of transmission per contact, and to reduce the average viral load.
Año has also enjoined barangays in Metro Manila to activate their local COVID-19 Task Forces (LCTFs) to aid in monitoring and preventing the spread of the disease in communities.
The LCTF shall direct the Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office and Local City Health Office, upon receiving the referrals from the DOH-Emergency Operations Center, to coordinate directly with, and convey or transport, symptomatic persons to the nearest DOH referral facility for COVID-19 testing.
The DILG chief added that at the DOH referral facility, the symptomatic persons will immediately undergo triage which will determine if the person is a severe case or a mild case.
If found to be mild cases, the ambulance will bring the patient confirmed as a persons under investigation (PUI) to the nearest DOH-designated hospital for treatment and isolation or will be admitted if found to be a severe case.
“The DILG and the LGUs will strictly enforce the home quarantine measures for those suspected of having contracted the virus,’’ Año said.
Meanwhile, barangays are also directed to mobilize their Barangay Health Emergency Response Teams (BHERTHs) to help the government monitor and contain the virus.
Año said that 60.51 percent or 25,411 barangays have already organized their BHERTs, which can aid in controlling further community transmissions of COVID-19.
Part of the BHERTs' responsibility is to monitor the community through home visitation of arriving passengers from a coronavirus-infected country within the locality, ensuring that all residents are accounted for.
DILG Secretary Eduardo Año (Photo from Philippine Information Agency / MANILA BULLETIN)
DILG Secretary Eduardo M. Año issued the order following President Duterte’s declaration of a state of public health emergency on Monday (March 9).
“While the holding of the barangay assembly day is important, we need to think of the greater good and ensure the general welfare of our people,” Año said, explaining that postponing the barangay assemblies is a logical move amid virus fears.
As a precautionary measure, Año also urged the public to temporarily shun social gatherings until the situation normalizes.
The Barangay Assembly is a biannual meeting held on any Saturday and Sunday of March and October as mandated by Section 397 of the Local Government Code of 1991.
At such assemblies, the punong barangay (barangay chief) delivers the State-of-the Barangay Address highlighting their accomplishments and plans and programs for the year, and discusses with their constituents the problems of the barangay and proposed solutions.
The DILG Chief said the increasing number of COVID-19 cases warrants decisive measures from the government and the cooperation of the public to help avert a more serious scenario.
Other precautionary measures
Año had earlier directed the Metro Manila local government units (LGUs) to suspend or postpone all mass gatherings as a social-distancing measure.
He noted that this was recommended by the Department of Health (DOH) Expert Advisory Group to reduce the number of people exposed to the virus, lower the risk of transmission per contact, and to reduce the average viral load.
Año has also enjoined barangays in Metro Manila to activate their local COVID-19 Task Forces (LCTFs) to aid in monitoring and preventing the spread of the disease in communities.
The LCTF shall direct the Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office and Local City Health Office, upon receiving the referrals from the DOH-Emergency Operations Center, to coordinate directly with, and convey or transport, symptomatic persons to the nearest DOH referral facility for COVID-19 testing.
The DILG chief added that at the DOH referral facility, the symptomatic persons will immediately undergo triage which will determine if the person is a severe case or a mild case.
If found to be mild cases, the ambulance will bring the patient confirmed as a persons under investigation (PUI) to the nearest DOH-designated hospital for treatment and isolation or will be admitted if found to be a severe case.
“The DILG and the LGUs will strictly enforce the home quarantine measures for those suspected of having contracted the virus,’’ Año said.
Meanwhile, barangays are also directed to mobilize their Barangay Health Emergency Response Teams (BHERTHs) to help the government monitor and contain the virus.
Año said that 60.51 percent or 25,411 barangays have already organized their BHERTs, which can aid in controlling further community transmissions of COVID-19.
Part of the BHERTs' responsibility is to monitor the community through home visitation of arriving passengers from a coronavirus-infected country within the locality, ensuring that all residents are accounted for.