CAR, Baguio City COVID 19 Efforts Admired

May 24, 2020 Headlines

BAGUIO CITY (May 22, 2020) — National Task Force COVID-19 chief implementer Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. lauded Baguio City and the entire Cordillera Administrative Region for effective measures to contain the spread of the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
In a meeting with Cordillera leaders on Thursday noon, Galvez said CAR has the makings of a model region in terms of COVID preparations with the unity of its people as the main driver.
“It is the united factor of its (people). You are very disciplined and that is your strength,” Galvez told members of the Regional IATF.
CAR may be the most prepared if not “over prepared” when it comes to dealing with the health crisis, he continued.
“If you are prepared for COVID then you are more than prepared for any disaster that may come,” he said.
CAR is one of the best performing regions in COVID- 19 control primarily for the “drastic actions” it adopted at the outset like the cancellation of major events like the Philippine Military Academy homecoming that practically prevented the health problem from taking root, Galvez admired.
Aside from the annual PMA alumni homecoming, Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong decided to forego with the month-long Panagbenga on February, the Cordillera Regional Athletic Association (CARAA) sports meet and other public gatherings in the city while other Cordillera provincial and town leaders also cancelled their events and shut down tourist spots.
Galvez said ‘making these drastic decisions of giving more importance to public safety over other interests is admirable.’
Many local government units now look up to the city for the trendsetting methods of dealing with the crisis, the NTF chief said, as he hailed how political will is wielded to pursue these successes against COVID19.
The Office of the Civil Defense-Cordillera heading the RIATF here showed Galvez CAR’s best practices against COVID-19 including its proactive measures and advance planning; mandatory
decontamination and health and safety measures; use of high tech devices; voluntary revelation of identities of patients; early identification of quarantine and isolation facilities and strict quarantine protocols; early recovery, rehabilitation and resiliency interventions; and transparency and effective education campaign.
Artemio A. Dumlao/ABN