By Emme Rose Santiagudo
The Department of Health (DOH) Central Visayas (Region 7) will only augment the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) response in Western Visayas, Office of the Presidential Assistant for the Visayas (OPAV) Assistant Secretary Jonji Gonzales clarified on Monday.
In an interview with a local radio station, Gonzales said the new memorandum of the DOH on the twinning arrangement of DOH-Central Visayas and DOH-CHD in Western Visayas does not mandate the replacement of DOH-CHD 6 Regional Director Dr. Marlyn Convocar.
“Wala namang intention to really take out si Director Convocar. Mayroon tayong huge respect kay Dr. Convocar,” Gonzales said.
Gonzales said the new memorandum is like a brotherhood agreement between the two regions where DOH-Central Visayas Director Jaime S. Bernadas has been tasked to help, augment, and assist Region 6 in its COVID-19 response.
“Si Dr. Bernadas of DOH-7, he is being designated to help, augment, and assist Region 6 sa COVID-19 response. He is not replacing the director of Region 6, meron lang twinning agreement parang brotherhood agreement na magtutulungan ang Region 7 and Region 6,” he said.
DOH Undersecretary of Adbullah B. Dumama issued Department Personnel Order No. 2020-023 dated April 2, 2020 ordering Bernadas “to oversee the operations of COVID-19 Response of DOH Western Visayas and shall attend and address the various external concerns of the Local Chief Executives and all other stakeholders of Region VI.”
Meanwhile, Convocar will manage all the other operations of DOH-CHD 6, the order said.
Gonzales also discarded speculations that the twinning arrangement was due to criticisms thrown at DOH-CHD 6 by local officials.
“I don’t think so. Walang kinalaman yun dito. This decision has been discussed two to three weeks ago. We have already planned ahead,” he said.
DOH-6 came under fire for classifying all residents of Guimbal in Iloilo province as persons under monitoring (PUMs) following the confirmation of a local COVID-19 transmission.
The declaration covered members of the influential Garin political clan in the first district.
PUMs are persons who had travel history and exposure to a positive case but are asymptomatic.
The declaration was then lifted by DOH-CHD 6, clarifying that residents of Guimbal are not generally considered as PUMs.
According to Gonzales, the different regions in Visayas have been working together in times of crisis ever since.
“Nagtutulungan tayo sa Visayas. We always consider Visayas as one Visayas with Region 6, Region 7, and Region 8. If you remember during Typhoon season particularly during Yolanda, yung mga regional offices, nagtutulungan sila, ganito din ginagawa namin,” he added.
Gonzales and Bernadas arrived in Iloilo City on Monday to meet with the stakeholders, officials, and agencies leading the COVID-19 response in the region.
Gonzales said they will first meet with the Inter-agency Task Force (IATF) in the region to address the different concerns.
“We want to listen to them and tell them what we can do as a brother to Iloilo. We will try to address all the concerns,” he said.
They are looking at implementing the best practices of DOH-Central Visayas in the region in responding to COVID-19, Gonzales added.
Nevertheless, he commended the bayanihan spirit that is present in the region amid the crisis.
“Dito sa Western Visayas, alam natin na nagtutulongan may bayanihan ang public sector, government sector, they are all doing their best to fight COVID-19. Yan yung importante, united yung buong lugar, malaking bagay yan para masugpo natin ang COVID-19,” Gonzales noted.
Meanwhile, Mayor Jerry Treñas, who had questioned the twinning arrangement, said he is still continuously coordinating with Dr. Convocar.
“I have been continuously coordinating with Director Convocar I don’t know ano ubrahon sang bag-o nga director. I talked to Usec. Dumama siling niya sa akon, the same coordination with the regional director. Waay lang ko kabalo basi ang isa ka director ma-director lang siya sa isa ka munisipyo,” he said in a press conference on Monday.
