Barangays’ Covid-19 response recognized

The city government recognized 45 barangays in appreciation of their efforts to keep Covid-19 cases down for the last nine months of 2020.
Awarded were barangays Andres Bonifacio, Scout Barrio, Upper Dagsian, Atok Trail, Middle Quezon Hill, Loakan Apugan, Lower Dagsian, Manuel Roxas, Upper Quezon Hill, Middle Quezon Hill, Alfonso Tabora, DPS Compound, Pinsao Pilot Project, Session Road, Upper City Market, Andres Bonifacio Caguia Rimando (ABCR), Country Club Village, Brookspoint, Gibraltar, Kias, Upper Rock Quarry, Lopez Jaena, Padre Zamora, Saint Joseph Village, and Loakan Proper and received P20,000 each.
Barangays Camdas, Camp 7, Fort Del Pilar, Magsaysay Private Road, Military Cut-off, Sto. Tomas Proper, West Quirino Hill, Pacdal, Lourdes Proper, San Roque Village, Trancoville, Kabayanihan, Lower Rock Quarry, Middle Rock Quarry, Lourdes Extension, Pucsusan, Upper General Luna, Aurora Hill Proper, City Camp Central, and Brookside also received P10,000 each.
The awards were handed out by Rep. Marquez Go, Vice Mayor Faustino Olowan, City Administrator Bonifacio dela Peña, and city councilors during the regular city hall flag raising ceremonies last week.
Special Services Division/Barangay Affairs Office head Noel Mabutas said the Covid response program was done through the initiative of Mayor Benjamin Magalong using P700,000 from the local good governance program.
The Covid-19 response program dealt with barangays’ control, lockdowns, and implementation of health protocols pursuant to national and local directives, policies, memoranda, advisories, and guidelines.
Criteria include compliance of barangays to various communications as recorded from the local government unit, City Social Welfare and Development Office, Baguio City Police Office, and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency.
Compliance to various programs on health and sanitation during the pandemic based on City Health Services Office records; innovations in prevention, control and Covid-19 management; completeness of requisite requirement; exemplary practice or competitive edge for certain barangays were also considered in judging and recorded for possible duplication or re-echoing.
The barangay assessment was conducted by the SSD/Barangay Affairs Office and Liga ng mga Barangay chair Councilor Michael Lawana, with participation of representatives from the Department of the Interior and Local Government, City Mayors’ Office, OCSWDO, CHSO/Sanitation Office, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, and the Baguio City Police Office.
The cash incentive shall be used by the barangays for Covid-19 programs and other related concerns which may help them sustain their efforts while the pandemic is ongoing. – Julie G. Fianza