MANKAYAN, Benguet– Provincial officials and health authorities lauded the swift and effective anti-Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) response of the municipal government that effectively and efficiently prevented the occurrence of a worst case scenario in the locality as the same has been placed under control.
Gov. Melchor D. Diclas stated the efforts of the concerned government agencies, the municipal government headed by the hardworking and dynamic Mayor Frenzel A. Ayong, and the barangays as well as the volunteers and the private sector, proved effective in ensuring there was no outbreak in the municipality amidst the previous surge in the number of cases from the Lepanto mine camp.
He added that the successful timely intervention displayed by the municipal officials, health workers and barangay officials of Mankayan, in the early detection and screening of probable, suspected and possible COVID cases, could be replicated by other municipalities in similar situations so that the prevailing situation will be placed under control the soonest.
The governor congratulated all sectors of the municipality for coming together in dealing with the situation that resulted in the drastic reduction in the number of cases from the previous double digit to single digit daily cases.
Earlier, COVID cases in the municipality started to surge within the Lepanto mine camp in early November until the latter part of the month before stabilizing during the first two weeks of December following the aggressive contact tracing, early detection and screening, among other interventions implemented by the concerned stakeholders to abate the possible outbreak of the deadly virus in other communities of the municipality.
Mayor Ayong recognized the important contribution of the antigen test kit initially purchased by the municipal government in addition to some donations from the Itogon Suyoc Resources, Inc. (ISRI) and Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque that paved the way for the implementation of early detection and screening that led to the immediate isolation of symptomatic patients who in turn tested positive for the deadly virus.
He also extended the municipal government’s gratitude to the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) for the timely increase in the number of contact tracers that facilitated the immediate conduct of contact tracing of the close contacts of confirmed cases resulting to the implementation of strict quarantine and isolation measures.
Ayong thanked the regional, provincial and district offices of the education department headed by regional director Estela Cariño and Benguet Schools Division officer-in-charge Benilda Daytaca for immediately approving the use of some public elementary and high schools as temporary isolation centers following the increase in COVID cases, especially from the Lepanto mine camp over the past several weeks.
Ayong also recognized the important contributions of the health workers, police personnel, teachers, local government employees, barangay officials and volunteers for their significant contribution in the local government’s efforts to fight the spread of the virus in the municipality.
By HENT
