By Felipe V. Celino
ROXAS CITY, Capiz— Mayor Ronnie Dadivas suspended on Friday classes in all levels, both in private and public schools, because of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
The suspension will take effect March 13, 2020 until further notice.
The mayor also issued an executive order declaring strict compliance to the 14-day self quarantine for all returning residents of the city as well as visitors with travel history to areas with COVID-19 cases.
All major public gatherings in the city, Day Care Service Programs and moving up ceremonies were also terminated on March 13.
The mayor also suspended work at the City Hall to give way to disinfection.
KAPISTAHAN CANCELLED
Except for the thanksgiving mass, wreath laying, and flag raising, all activities for the 2020 Kapistahan will be cancelled also due to COVID-19.
The event was supposed to be held April 15, 2020 to commemorate the Foundation Anniversary of Capiz and Death Anniversary of the late President Manuel Roxas.
The cancellation of the major activities was a collective decision of the organizer and the stakeholders to prioritize the security of the public and to prevent the entry of COVID-19.
TASK FORCE
Capiz Governor Esteban Evan Contreras also issued an executive order (EO) on Thursday creating the Provincial Inter-Agency Task Force (PIATF) to collate efforts against the spread of COVID-19.
EO No. 33 was part of the initiative of the provincial government to strengthen the prevention and control mechanism in anticipation of the spread of COViD-19 in Capiz.
Contreras chairs the task force while Provincial Health Officer Sam Delfin is vice chair.
The members of the task force includes the Sangguniang Panlalawigan’s (SP) Committee on Health, Philippine Councilors’ League (PCL) president, Liga ng mga Barangay Federation president, Sanggunian Kabataan(SK) Federation president, and heads of frontline offices at the capitol.
Other members include are different national government agencies such as Department of Health, Department of the Interior and Local Government, Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Education, Department of Labor and Employment, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Civil Service Commission, among others.
The inter-agency task force will create a system that will screen and help Capicenos identified as Person Under Monitoring (PUMs) and Person under Investigation (PUIs).
PUIs are patients with symptoms and with history of travel to China including Hong Kong and Macau and other infected areas and had exposure to a positive case.
PUMs are patients with no symptoms but with history of travel to infected areas and exposure to a positive case.
The task Force will conduct education and information campaign for prevention, control and management of COVID-19.
Under the EO, all the local government units (LGUs) in Capiz were ordered to find effective ways to prevent the entry of COVID-19 in their respective localities.
