The Office of the Presidential Assistant for the Visayas (OPAV) on Monday commended those who have helped bring down coronavirus disease (Covid-19) cases in the Visayas particularly Cebu, Negros Occidental, and the rest of Western Visayas.
Secretary Michael Lloyd Dino, Presidential Assistant for the Visayas, cited the collaboration and cooperation among individuals, government agencies and non-government organizations as having contributed to the campaign against Covid-19 here.
He cited the crucial role of Inter-Agency Task Force Covid-19 Chief Implementer for Visayas (retired) Maj. Gen. Melquiades Feliciano.
“It is through General Feliciano that we are able to assist Bacolod and the rest of Western Visayas in healing together,” Dino said in a statement.
Feliciano established the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) in Cebu City, which provided a comprehensive and holistic approach to the health crisis.
Last June, Cebu City was considered as a Covid-19 hotspot. With its data-unification management and contact tracing system, the Cebu City EOC succeeded in bringing down Covid-19 cases.
Dino also credited the Department of Health in Central Visayas (DOH-7), led by Regional Director Jaime Bernadas and chief pathologist Dr. Mary Jean Loreche for sharing their best practices with Western Visayas.
On Oct. 29, OPAV gave 29 plaques of appreciation to individuals and organizations that have immensely contributed to OPAV’s goal of helping bring down coronavirus cases in Bacolod, Negros Occidental and Western Visayas region in an awarding ceremony at Seda Hotel in Bacolod City.
Among the institutions recognized were the Chong Hua Hospital-Cebu, DOH-7, Philippine Information Agency, Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center (VSMMC), Philippine Coast Guard, AFP Central Command and Sacred Heart School Batch ’85.
OPAV also recognized the contributions of VSMMC chief Dr. Gerardo Aquino, Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong, Central Command chief Lt. Gen. Roberto Ancan, Cebu City Councilor Joel Garganera, Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board-6 Regional Director Richard Osmeña, Office of Civil Defense-8 Regional Director Bobby Nuñez, Mayor Roberto Palomar of Tapaz, Capiz and DOH-6 Regional Director Marlyn Convocar.
Feliciano also recognized the efforts of all the persons who worked on the ground and thanked them for their contribution to EOC. The Bacolod EOC is the second EOC set up in the Visayas.
He added that Bacolod City is now notably stable as far as the Covid-19 situation is concerned. From almost 200 daily cases in September, Bacolod’s daily tally has gone down to less than 30 and is still going down.
Dino is optimistic that the EOC formula now being implemented in Bacolod and in other areas in Visayas will help bring down cases.
“I really do hope that this decrease of daily new cases is already a sign that we are doing well in our fight against this pandemic,” he said. “In due time we can already bounce back from the economic losses that our people, especially the poor, have experienced in the last seven months.”
Dino also thanked President Rodrigo Duterte and Senator Christopher “Bong” Go for their continued support to Western Visayas and for supporting OPAV’s work as a bridge to Malacañang. (PNA)
