LGU-Isabela City drafts measures to help COVID front liners

ISABELA CITY, Basilan, March 26 (PIA) – The city government of Isabela de Basilan recognizes the vulnerabilities of frontline workers coping with the challenges to curb COVID-19 infection in the city and the province.

In an emergency meeting with 45 Barangay Chairpersons of the city, the city’s Task Force COVID discussed various concerns and issues in the implementation of stricter measures for social (physical) distancing and limited freedom of movement.

OIC Mayor Kifli Salliman believed these measures could reduce the risk of frontline workers in battling the day-to-day demand of fighting COVID-19 infection.

“We call on the public to understand our extreme situation and do a little sacrifice, just for a month, in order to stop the possible spread of the virus in our city,” he said.

The 45 village leaders have agreed unanimously during Monday’s meeting to abide by the existing Ordinance on NO ANGKAS policy, wherein tricycles were also directed to only one passenger.

When asked about how other remote communities comply with having only “habal-habal” mode of transportation, the OIC Mayor asked the barangays concerned to plan and device other means to address the communities’ concern.

“It may be extreme, but the communities can plan to ask the “habal-habal” driver to buy the necessities of the households or any other creative ways, as long as the law is not violated at this time of emergency,” Salliman added.

He said that the City is also planning to provide shuttle services for health workers. He also said that the local government will also study its available resources to fund the possible provision of goods to frontline workers, like the members of the BHERTs or the Barangay Health Emergency Response Team.

Barangay officials welcome this kind of support for goods as local resources are depleting due to the demand for the needed medical supplies and protective gear that these frontline workers need. Besides, the barangay also needs to reserve some resources in worse case scenarios if COVID-19 could not be contained after a month or so.

“We have a lot of uncertainties at this time of crisis, thus we welcome all the help, including those from rich families of our communities, and from our city, provincial, and even from the national government,” one barangay official said.

In the meantime, OIC mayor Salliman said that the city needs more PPEs or Personal Protective Equipment for the front liners and asked for the national government’s help to facilitate the fast acquisition of these need. (EDT/RVC/PIA9-Basilan)