CORTES, Bohol, Nov. 21 (PIA) -- Still saddled with issues on local transmission of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in one of its island barangays, Bien Unido believes it should start working on propping up its local economy.
“Health, education and opening up of the economy can not be stalled by contained cases of local transmission in an island, as people elsewhere in the town also needs to move on," said Bien Unido Mayor Rene Borenaga.
While awaiting the results of the swab tests for the 10 COVID-19 positive local transmission cases from the island barangay of Maomawan, Borenaga on Nov. 10, 2020 led the local officials in a blessing of the town’s newly acquired patient transport, a brand new Toyota Commuter deluxe van converted into an ambulance, according to reports from town Information Officer Emmanuelito Item.
Purchased to supplement the town’s patient mobility assets as well as facilitate the immediate seamless transport of patients of infectious diseases to Bohol’s COVID-dedicated hospitals, the ambulance is the latest addition to the town’s patient transport support.
That same day, the LGU also blessed and inaugurated the new two-storey building for the Barangay Accounting Office, Women's Organization Office, and Youth Center Office, key infrastructure that can mainstream the participation of critical sectors in an inclusive governance here.
“Simultaneous with the events, along with the help of Representative Aristotle Aumentado, the town shipped to Maomawan some 60 containers of five gallons of drinking water to the locked down community in Purok 5, as well as a resupply for the Barangay Health Emergency Response Teams and the authorities manning the border security,” Item added.
A local detachment of police and contact tracers have been sent to the island to help impose the lockdown and prevent the eventual spread of the disease after a patient, who is not confined in a mainland hospital, has been in contact with people in the community.
“About 10 more first and second generation contacts have been identified, placed in strict isolation while authorities implemented a granular lockdown in the affected purok where the authorities traced positive cases,” he said.
In opening up its economy, local officials mull on the suggestion to restart the operation of the local cockpit while complying with the National Inter-Agency Task Force guidelines and health and safety protocols.
On Nov. 11, in a mandated inspection of the local ARA Cockpit Arena, the Municipal Inspection Team lead by Borenaga did an ocular inspection and meeting with local cockpit operators to check if the facility can qualify for the reopening of cockfighting in the municipality.
For the reopening, however, local officials told cockpit operators to ensure the strict observance of safety protocols against COVID-19 in order to secure the MIATF permit.
During the Local School Board meeting on Nov. 19, the mayor along with Vice Mayor Monching Arcenal and all Sangguniang Bayan members led and witnessed the distribution and turnover of A4 bond papers for the module classes of Bien Unido District, including its two high schools: Holy Child Academy and Bien Unido Academy, the information officer added.
The problem of producing school modules has reached the local town leaders, especially with the Department of Education’s implemented blended learning modality.
With printed modules among the learning modalities, teachers have found that a weekly module would need supplies of bond papers which the school could not sustainably provide as it has not been among the allowable budget in the District DepEd’s maintenance and other operating expenses.
“Our heartfelt thanks to the School Board through the effort of our ever supportive Mayor Rene Borenaga and the LGU Family for giving us this 18 boxes (90 reams) of bond papers for Bien Unido Academy,” said Emely Garcia, in her social media post.
Earlier, too, Bien Unido installed internet connection in all the town’s public schools. (rahc/PIA-7/Bohol)
Source: Philippines Information Agency (pia.gov.ph)
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