By Jean Fernando
Electronic billboard announcements reminding people to observe cleanliness and proper hygiene in the light of the COVID 19 have been posted strategic locations in Pasay City particularly in malls and high traffic areas.
(Pasay City Public Information Office / MANILA BULLETIN)
Based on the Facebook account of the Pasay City Public Information Office (PIO), Mayor Emi Calixto-Rubiano the said information drive is part of the city government’s campaign to prevent the spread of the virus that has so far infected 45,171 people and killed over a thousand as per report of the World Health Organization (WHO).
“Being a travel city where an average of 10,000 people arriving or departing daily in Pasay, we have to be very vigilant against this disease. The billboards are our reminders to travelers and the Filipino people in general to be careful and watch for possible dangers or difficulties,” Calixto-Rubiano said.
Among the messages in the billboards – which also have translations in Chinese – are reminders for people to wash their hands thoroughly using soap and water, clean and cook their food well, and avoid people who have coughs, colds, and fever as well as wear face masks properly, if needed. It also posts a hotline number where people can call during emergencies.
“These are friendly reminders to prevent the spread of this disease,” Calixto-Rubiano said.
The PIO said that the billboard announcements can be seen in SM MOA, which has the biggest LED billboard in the Philippines, SM SMX, SM MOA MAAX, SM MOA Arena Media Mesh, Resorts World Manila, Resort World Manila Runway, Newport City, Double Dragon, and the Philippine International Convention Center.
The SM MOA Arena Media Mesh is considered the “largest LED billboard in the Philippines”, thus, almost 300,000 mall-goers see the Public Service Announcement (PSA) of Calixto-Rubiano on weekdays while almost 500,000 people see it on weekends.
At the PICC, which houses the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Professional Regulatory Commission (PRC) and Data Privacy Commission (DPC) has an average of 1,000 people seeing Pasay City Government’s anti-COVID 19 info materials every day, and more than 10,000 people see it when attending religious activities during Sundays, in addition to participants of corporate events held at the convention center every month.
Likewise, Cable Link and Holdings Corporation (Cablelink) Vice President Mae Samaniego said that Cablelink has broadcasted the Information, Education and Communication (IEC) material of Pasay City Government on COVID 19 thru its Community Channel reaching its subscribers in Greater Metro Manila.