Amas, Kidapawan City- The recommendation that the Province of Cotabato be declared under the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) status until April 30, 2020, was unanimously agreed in a special meeting today April 13, 2020 called by Cotabato Governor Nancy A. Catamco and attended by different chief executives and members of Task Force COVID-19.
This after the province recorded 3 COVID -19 confirmed cases.
In the same meeting, Governor Catamco assisted by Task Force Covid-19 Incident Commander reviewed and harmonized with the mayors the action plan and implementation of executive orders issued by the province regarding ECQ.
According to Gov. Catamco, the effort of preventing and controlling the spread of COVID-19 virus does not only depend on the provincial government’s initiative but through the collaborative effort of municipal mayors and the entire community.
She also emphasized that she called the said special meeting to ensure that the plans and response of local government units to stem the contamination and end the dreaded virus are synchronized in all levels, that gray areas stated in the executive order are clarified so that “we move as one in Cotabato province,” Governor Catamco said.
Municipal Passes will be issued by the mayors to grant permission to specified constituencies to travel and enter borders within the province for the duration of the ECQ for as long as their purpose of travel and entry to other barangays or municipality/city is among the prescribed items in the corresponding executive order. Among the sectors prioritized on this directive are frontliners and health emergency cases.
Meanwhile, Sangguniang Panlalawigan Committee on Health and Sanitation and Incident Commander BM Philbert G. Malaluan also presented during the meeting Executive Order No. 57 creating Task Force Sabong Contact Tracing wherein the said taskforce will be responsible in tracing all the cockfight aficionados (sabungero) in Cotabato Province who were attended the cock derby events at New Matina, Gallera, Davao City last March 6-12,2020.
Office of Provincial Veterinarian Head Dr. Rufino C. Sorupia will be the chairman of contact tracing teams in partnership with the Department of Health and local government units.
“I urge the public to cooperate with our authorities in identifying personalities who are residents of Cotabato province and present during the cockfights in Matina, Davao last March 6-12, 2020 and in reporting to your respective COVID-19 contact tracing teams for immediate action. Let us help one another, and let us heal as one,” the governor said.//idcd//
